Don't Panic. Cook Your Parsley and Cilantro.

If you spend any time on social media, you have probably seen the breathless posts about a parasite outbreak in North Carolina. Take a breath. Let me offer you the thing the internet almost never does: perspective, and a calm plan.

Yes, we are having a busier-than-usual season of cyclosporiasis, a stomach bug you can catch from certain fresh produce. The state has confirmed more than 700 cases so far in 2026, with a little over half of them here in Wake County. That sounds like a lot until you do the math. Those cases are spread across a county of more than 1.25 million people, which comes out to roughly 1 reported case for every 3,000 residents. This is not an emergency. It is a manageable, avoidable, and very treatable situation, and I am going to walk you through exactly how to think about it.

Let me give you a comparison that may put it to rest entirely. If you are a woman, your chance of getting a urinary tract infection this year is about 4 in 100, and more than half of all women will have at least one in their lifetime. Your chance of catching Cyclospora this year, even here in the county with the most cases, is closer to 1 in 3,000. In other words, you are on the order of 100 times more likely to get a UTI this year than this parasite, and I would wager you have never once lost sleep over a UTI.

And here is the part worth sitting with. The vast majority of those UTIs are caused by E. coli that comes from your own gut, bacteria you carry with you every single day and cannot wash off, cook away, or avoid. This parasite is the opposite. It comes only from food, which means it is something you can actually do something about. We calmly accept a far more common infection that lives inside us, and yet a rarer one that we can sidestep with a few simple habits is the one setting the internet on fire.

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What This Actually Is

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a tiny parasite called Cyclospora. You pick it up by eating fresh produce that was contaminated somewhere on its way to your plate, usually leafy greens or fresh herbs like cilantro and parsley.

Here is the single most reassuring fact about it: it is not contagious. You cannot catch it from another person, from a doorknob, or from your kids. It comes from food and only from food, and that is exactly what makes it so easy to steer around.

Cases have been rising in North Carolina for a few years, and this year is the busiest we have seen. We are not alone in this. The same produce-related cases are showing up in many states this summer. Closer to home, our state health officials have pointed to fresh parsley and cilantro as the most common thread among local cases. And one helpful thing to know: you do not need to have traveled anywhere to be exposed, so there is no need to retrace your steps or overthink where you have been.

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What It Feels Like, and Who Should Pay a Little Extra Attention

For most healthy people, this is an unpleasant stomach illness, not a dangerous one. The main symptom is watery diarrhea that can hang around longer than an ordinary stomach bug, sometimes easing up and then returning. You might also feel tired, bloated, or lose your appetite for a while. It is annoying, but it responds well to treatment, and people recover.

The group I would gently ask to pay a little extra attention are those who are older or managing a chronic illness. If your body has less in reserve, it is simply smart to head off a lingering stomach illness early rather than wait it out. That is not a reason to worry. It is just a good reason to be a touch more careful with raw produce over the next few weeks, and to check in with me promptly if symptoms show up.

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A Quick Word About Washing

You may have read that rinsing your produce does not completely remove this parasite. That part is true, and I would rather you hear it from me plainly. Washing helps and is always worth doing, but it does not get rid of Cyclospora entirely.

I mention this so you do not lean on a rinse alone and assume you are fully covered. The good news is that there is something that works completely, and it is probably already sitting on your stove.

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What I Recommend

I am not going to tell you to stop eating vegetables. That would be strange advice from a longevity doctor, and it would trade a short-lived stomach bug for a lifetime of missing out on some of the healthiest food you can eat. What I am suggesting is a few small, easy adjustments through the end of this season, which usually winds down by the end of August.

First, go easy on the raw fresh herbs for now, especially cilantro and parsley. These are the repeat names in the North Carolina cases, and they are almost always eaten uncooked, added at the very end. Skipping the garnish for a few weeks costs you nothing.

Second, cook what you can. Heat destroys this parasite completely. A quick saute of your greens, or stirring herbs into a hot dish instead of sprinkling them on cold, takes the risk off the table entirely.

Third, lean on locally grown produce when you can find it. These cases are being traced through long commercial supply chains. Your farmers market and your own garden are not part of that picture.

Fourth, if you do come down with watery diarrhea that lasts more than a few days, simply call me. It is easily treated with 10 days of antibiotics. There is no reason to suffer through it quietly.

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The Bottom Line

Here is the whole thing in a sentence: this is a real but low risk, it comes only from food, and a few small habits over the next few weeks turn it into a non-issue.

So do not let the scary posts get to you. You do not need to fear your vegetables or swear off salad for the summer. Go easy on raw cilantro and parsley for now, cook your greens when it is convenient, favor local when you can, and see me if your stomach acts up and stays that way. That is the entire plan.

Take a breath, enjoy your summer, and eat well.

To your good health,

The Longevity Doctor®