UKHSA Warns of Cyclospora Rise in Travellers to Mexico

What UKHSA has found

The UK Health Security Agency, alongside Public Health Scotland and Public Health Wales, has identified a sharp rise in infections caused by cyclospora in travellers returning from Mexico, publishing the figures in its Health Protection Report on 30 July 2026. Between 30 April and 15 July, 67 cases of cyclosporiasis were reported across the UK, 30 in England, 27 in Scotland and 10 in Wales, already close to the annual average of 93 cases recorded across whole years from 2022 to 2025 and with the peak travel season still running. Travel information was available for 52 of the cases, of which 48 involved travel to Mexico, one of them combined with travel to the United States; a further case followed travel to the USA alone and one to Kenya. The median age of cases is 46, and two thirds of those whose sex was recorded are female. UKHSA expects the numbers to keep rising with summer travel to Mexico, and has flagged that cases linked to the United States may also increase given a widespread outbreak reported there. Seasonal outbreaks in UK travellers returning from Mexico have occurred every year since 2015 apart from the pandemic years, with the highest annual total, 359 cases, recorded in 2016.

What cyclospora is and how it spreads

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that does not occur naturally in the UK but is found in parts of Central and South America, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It spreads through food or drink contaminated with infected human faeces, not from person to person, which means catching it from a fellow traveller after returning home is not a risk. The illness it causes, cyclosporiasis, typically brings frequent watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, flatulence, low-grade fever, loss of appetite and weight loss, and the crucial detail for anyone who falls ill abroad is duration: symptoms can persist for weeks rather than the few days of most travel-related stomach upsets, and can relapse. Most cases resolve on their own, but antibiotics can be given for severe or prolonged infection, and people who are immunocompromised can experience more serious illness. Because the parasite requires specific laboratory testing of stool samples to identify, anyone with prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms after travel should tell their GP exactly where they travelled and when, since that history is what prompts the right test rather than a generic diagnosis.

How to reduce your risk abroad

The single most important message from UKHSA and the National Travel Health Network and Centre is that the risk does not disappear inside an expensive resort: travellers are advised to maintain good food and water hygiene at all times, even if staying in high-end all-inclusive accommodation, because past UK outbreaks have been traced to contaminated produce distributed across many hotels rather than hygiene failures at any individual one. The practical advice is to drink bottled or otherwise treated water and use it for brushing teeth, eat food that is thoroughly cooked and served hot, and avoid the high-risk items associated with this parasite specifically: uncooked berries, fresh herbs used as garnish, unpeeled fruit and raw salads, along with ice made from untreated water. Peel fruit yourself where possible. Standard travel hygiene practices, thorough hand washing before eating and after using the toilet, remain the foundation. None of this requires avoiding Mexico or any other destination: cyclosporiasis is unpleasant rather than typically dangerous for healthy adults, and the adjustments are ordinary travel precautions applied consistently rather than relaxed at the buffet.

Your rights if illness ruins a package holiday

Falling ill abroad raises questions that sit outside the health advice. Travellers who booked a package holiday have rights under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 where illness results from a failure in the services provided as part of the package, and successful claims against tour operators for holiday sickness turn on evidence: seek medical attention at the destination and keep the records, note what and where you ate, photograph conditions if food handling appeared unsafe, and report the illness to the operator's representative before leaving so the complaint is on file. Travel insurance is the more commonly useful route, typically covering medical treatment abroad and sometimes curtailment where illness forces a change of plans, so contact the insurer's emergency line before incurring significant costs. UK travellers in Mexico have no reciprocal healthcare arrangement to fall back on, which makes insurance essential rather than optional. Anyone still unwell after returning should see their GP and mention the travel history, and can check current destination health guidance on the TravelHealthPro and FCDO pages linked in the sources below. Related: our global travel section, UK visa and immigration guides, money guides and the latest UK news.

Frequently asked questions

How many cyclospora cases have been reported in UK travellers?

67 cases between 30 April and 15 July 2026, split 30 in England, 27 in Scotland and 10 in Wales, against an annual average of 93 across 2022 to 2025.

Where are UK cyclospora cases coming from?

Of the 52 cases with travel information available, 48 involved travel to Mexico. One case followed travel to the USA and one to Kenya.

What are the symptoms of cyclosporiasis?

Frequent watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, flatulence, low-grade fever, loss of appetite and weight loss. Symptoms can persist for weeks and may relapse.

How can I avoid cyclospora on holiday?

Drink bottled or treated water, eat thoroughly cooked food served hot, and avoid uncooked berries, fresh herbs, unpeeled fruit, raw salads and ice. UKHSA stresses this applies even in high-end all-inclusive resorts.

Can cyclospora spread from person to person?

No. The parasite spreads only through food or water contaminated with infected faeces, so it does not pass directly between people.