UK health officials are warning travellers to take extra care over food and water hygiene after a rise in cyclospora infections among people returning from Mexico, with new UK data showing the infection is spreading beyond isolated travel-related cases.
A summer travel warning for returning visitors
The UK Health Security Agency said 67 cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in the UK between 30 April and 15 July, most of them in people returning from Mexico. The figure stands out against an annual average of 93 cases recorded between 2022 and 2025, suggesting an unusually sharp increase over a short period.
The warning comes as the United States continues to report a much larger outbreak, with more than 18,000 people affected across 45 states, including 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases. US authorities have linked part of that outbreak to iceberg lettuce sourced from Mexico.
What the infection does
Cyclospora is a parasite that can cause frequent watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, flatulence, low-grade fever, loss of appetite and weight loss. The infection is typically spread through contaminated food, especially herbs, salad and soft fruit, and does not occur naturally in the UK. Public health officials also say there is no risk of person-to-person spread.
Although symptoms often settle after a few days, the illness can become more serious or prolonged in people who are immunocompromised, and antibiotics may be needed in some cases.
Cases reported across the UK
According to the collated data from UKHSA, Public Health Scotland and Public Health Wales, 30 cases were reported in England, 10 in Wales and 27 in Scotland. Travel history was available for most of the cases, and 48 of the 52 people with travel information reported travel to Mexico. Some also reported staying at hotels in the Riviera Maya and Cancún regions and consuming a range of food and drink, while investigations continue.
Philip Veal, consultant in travel health at UKHSA, advised travellers to reduce their risk by following good food and water hygiene measures, including drinking bottled water and eating thoroughly cooked food, even when staying in high-end all-inclusive resorts. He also advised avoiding uncooked berries and herbs, unpeeled fruit and salad items.
People who develop symptoms after returning from travel should seek medical attention and inform a healthcare professional of their travel history, UKHSA said. The agency added that it is working with the Association of British Travel Agents and Mexican public health authorities as the investigation continues.
With summer travel still underway, officials expect the number of travel-associated cases to rise further. For clinicians and travellers alike, the outbreak is a reminder that foodborne infections linked to overseas trips can appear in UK clinics weeks after exposure.
More details on the official advice can be found through UK travel health guidance and the latest public health updates.
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