British tourists have been urged to take precautions when travelling abroad amid a "sharp rise" in infections causing explosive diarrhoea. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has seen a sharp rise in cyclospora infections among travellers returning from Mexico to the UK, especially those who stayed at all-inclusive holiday resorts.
The latest data, published today, shows that 67 cases were reported among returning passengers between April 30 and July 15 2026. England recorded the highest number of cases (30), followed by Scotland with 27 and Wales with 10. This is a massive rise when compared to the annual average of 93 cases recorded between 2022 and 2025. Tourists who caught cyclospora reported staying at a range of different hotels in the Riviera Maya and Cancún regions and consuming a variety of food and drink as part of all-inclusive holiday packages.
UKHSA says further investigations around the cases are ongoing. UKHSA warns that travel-associated cyclospora cases will continue rising as more people travel to Mexico during the summer, with a possible increase in cases linked to travel to the US, where a widespread outbreak is currently underway.
