Cryptosporidiosis (often called “Crypto”) is a diarrheal disease caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium spp. Cryptosporidium is passed in the stool of an infected person or animal. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and is highly resistant to chlorine. Cryptosporidiosis is a common cause of waterborne illness and is the most common cause of recreational water illness (RWI) outbreaks in the United States.
Millions of Crypto oocysts can be released in the bowel movement of an infected human or animal. Infection occurs after accidental ingestion of the oocysts. Crypto may be found in soil, food, or water, or on surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces of infected humans or animals.
Published 5/6/2026
During 2024, 649 cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported. Of those, 75 were positive only on a rapid antigen screening test and were considered probable cases.
The total of 574 confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis (10.0 per 100,000 population) reported in 2024 was higher than the median number of confirmed cases reported annually from 2014 to 2023 (median, 381 cases; range, 232 to 476). The median age of confirmed cases in 2024 was 29 years (range, 7 months to 90 years). Children 10 years of age or younger accounted for 24% of cases. Fifty-six percent of cases were female. Of the 564 cases for which race was reported, 477 (85%) were white, 46 (8%) were Black, 23 (4%) reported being other or multiple races, 14 (2%) were Asian, and four (1%) were American Indian. Of the 556 cases for which ethnicity was reported, 31 (6%) were Hispanic. Sixty-seven percent of cases occurred from July through October. The incidence of cryptosporidiosis in the Southeastern, Southwestern, West Central, and Northeastern districts (17.0, 14.8, 13.6, and 12.3 cases per 100,000, respectively) was significantly higher than the statewide incidence. Only 249 (43%) cases occurred among residents of the metropolitan area (7.9 per 100,000). Forty-six (8%) cases required hospitalization, for a median of two days. No deaths were reported.
Ten confirmed outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were identified in Minnesota in 2024, accounting for 43 laboratory-confirmed cases, including five non-Minnesota residents. Six outbreaks due to person-to-person transmission in childcare settings accounted for 38 cases (11 laboratory-confirmed); these outbreaks occurred in Blue Earth, Carver, Le Sueur, Olmsted, Waseca, and Winona counties. Three outbreaks associated with waterparks accounted for 184 cases (29 laboratory-confirmed); all three outbreaks occurred in Hennepin County. One outbreak associated with animal contact in Kandiyohi County accounted for 8 cases (3 laboratory-confirmed).
Cryptosporidiosis is the waterborne illness that is the most common cause of recreational water illness (RWI).
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During 2023, 556 cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported. Of those, 80 were positive only on a rapid antigen screening test and were considered probable cases.
The 476 confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis (8.3 per 100,000 population) in 2023 was higher than the median number of confirmed cases reported annually from 2013 to 2022 (median, 364 cases; range, 224 to 439). The median age of confirmed cases in 2023 was 29 years (range, 9 months to 91 years). Children 10 years of age or younger accounted for 21% of cases. Fifty-six percent were female. Of the 468 cases for which race was reported, 422 (90%) were white, 21 (4%) were Black, 8 (2%) were American Indian, 6 (1%) were Asian, 1 (<1%) was Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 10 (2%) reported being other or multiple races. Seventeen (4%) were Hispanic. The incidence of cryptosporidiosis in the South Central, Southeastern, Southwestern, Central, and West Central districts (16.4, 16.4, 15.9, 10.1 and 9.8 cases per 100,000, respectively) was significantly higher than the statewide incidence. Only 172 (36%) cases occurred among residents of the metropolitan area (5.5 per 100,000). Thirty-eight (8%) cases required hospitalization, for a median of 3 days. One death was reported.
Five confirmed outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were identified in Minnesota in 2023, accounting for 26 laboratory-confirmed cases. Two outbreaks associated with animal contact accounted for 14 cases (four laboratory-confirmed); these outbreaks occurred in Crow Wing and Scott counties. One outbreak was associated with consumption of raw milk accounted for 13 cases (8 laboratory-confirmed cases) with exposures in Anoka, Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Isanti, and Morrison counties. One outbreak associated with contaminated fresh produce served at restaurants accounted for 31 cases (11 laboratory-confirmed) with exposures in Dakota, Hennepin, and Ramsey counties. One outbreak of cryptosporidiosis due to person-to-person transmission at a summer day camp in Mower County accounted for 7 cases (three laboratory-confirmed).
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. During 2022, 528 cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported. Of those, 173 were positive only on a rapid antigen screening test and were considered probable cases. The 355 confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis (6.3 per 100,000 population) in 2022 was similar to the median number of confirmed cases reported annually from 2012 to 2021 (median, 360 cases; range, 224 to 439).
The median age of confirmed cases in 2022 was 29 years (range, one year to 89 years). Children 10 years of age or younger accounted for 23% of cases. Fifty-five percent were female. Of the 348 cases for which race was reported, 304 (87%) were white, 26 (7%) were Black, 5 (1%) were Asian American, 3 (<1%) were American Indian, and 10 (3%) reported being other or multiple races. Sixteen (5%) were Hispanic. Sixty-five percent of cases occurred from July through October. The incidence of cryptosporidiosis in the Southwestern, Southeastern, South Central, and West Central regions (19.1, 14.6, 9.9, and 9.4 cases per 100,000, respectively) was significantly higher than the statewide incidence. Only 110 (31%) cases occurred among residents of the metropolitan area (3.1 per 100,000). Thirty (8%) cases required hospitalization, for a median of 4 days. No deaths were reported.
One confirmed outbreak of cryptosporidiosis was identified in Minnesota in 2022, accounting for two laboratory-confirmed cases. This outbreak was due to animal contact at a petting zoo in Scott County.
During 2021, 429 cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported. Of those, 56 were positive only on a rapid antigen screening test and were considered probable cases.
The 373 confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis (6.6 per 100,000 population) in 2021 is similar to the median number of confirmed cases reported annually from 2013 to 2020 (median, 353 cases; range, 224 to 439). The median age of confirmed cases in 2021 was 26 years (range, 9 months to 85 years). Children 10 years of age or younger accounted for 25% of cases. Sixty-one percent were female. Of the 353 cases for which race was reported, 305 (86%) were white, 28 (8%) were Black, 6 (2%) were Asian American, 1 (<1%) was American Indian, and 13 (4%) reported being other or multiple races. Fourteen (4%) were Hispanic. Sixty percent of cases occurred from July through October. The incidence of cryptosporidiosis in the South Central, Southeastern, West Central, and Southwestern districts (17.5, 17.4, 16.5, and 15.2 cases per 100,000, respectively) was significantly higher than the statewide incidence. Only 86 (23%) cases occurred among residents of the metropolitan area (2.7 per 100,000). Fifty-four (15%) cases required hospitalization, for a median of 2 days. Two deaths were reported.
Three confirmed outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were identified in Minnesota in 2021, accounting for 17 cases (5 laboratory-confirmed). All were due to person-to-person transmission in childcare settings. Two of these outbreaks occurred in Hennepin County and one in Dodge County. In addition, 4 laboratory-confirmed cases were part of an outbreak that occurred at a hotel water park in South Dakota.
During 2020, 365 cases of cryptosporidiosis (6.55 per 100,000 population) were reported. This is similar to the median number of cases reported annually from 2010 to 2019 (median, 367.5 cases; range, 307 to 532) (Figure 2). The median age of cases in 2020 was 27 years (range, 9 months to 86 years). Children 10 years of age or younger accounted for 21% of cases. Fifty-three percent of cases occurred during July through October. The incidence of cryptosporidiosis in the Southwestern, Southeastern, South Central, Northwestern, and West Central districts (28.1, 14.8, 13.7, 8.8, and 8.3 cases per 100,000, respectively) was significantly higher than the statewide incidence. Only 85 (23%) cases occurred among residents of the metropolitan area (2.8 per 100,000). Thirty-eight (10%) cases required hospitalization, for a median of 3 days (range, 1 to 49 days). One death was reported.
No confirmed outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were identified in Minnesota in 2020. One laboratory-confirmed case was included in an outbreak identified at a water park in Wisconsin.
In 2019, 490 cases of cryptosporidiosis (8.73 per 100,000 population) were reported. This is markedly higher than the median number of cases reported annually from 2009 to 2018 (median, 348 cases; range, 307 to 532). The median age was 28 years (range, 5 months to 96 years). Children 10 years of age or younger accounted for 22% of cases. Fifty-six percent of cases occurred during July through October. The incidence of cryptosporidiosis in the Southwestern, Southeastern, South Central, Northwestern, and West Central districts (23.5, 23.5, 17.2, 16.4 and 13.2 cases per 100,000, respectively) was significantly higher than the statewide incidence. Only 132 (27%) cases occurred among residents of the metropolitan area (4.3 per 100,000). Thirty-eight (8%) cases required hospitalization, for a median of 4 days (range, 2 to 190 days). No deaths were reported.
Five confirmed outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were identified in Minnesota in 2019, accounting for 22 laboratory-confirmed cases. One recreational water outbreak of cryptosporidiosis occurred, accounting for 124 cases (16 laboratoryconfirmed). The outbreak was associated with multiple locations of the same swim school (Hennepin and Ramsey counties) Two outbreaks associated with animal contact accounted for 13 cases (3 laboratoryconfirmed); these outbreaks occurred in Olmsted and Mower counties. Two outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis due to person-to-person transmission in child care settings accounted for 12 cases (3 laboratory-confirmed); these outbreaks occurred in Douglas and Renville counties.
In 2018, 532 cases of cryptosporidiosis (9.54 per 100,000 population) were reported. This is markedly higher than the median number of cases reported annually from 2008 to 2017 (median, 342 cases; range, 235 to 481). The median age of cases in 2018 was 23.5 years (range, 3 months to 92 years). Children 10 years of age or younger accounted for 22% of cases. Sixty percent of cases occurred during July through October. The incidence of cryptosporidiosis in the Southwestern, Southeastern, South Central, and West Central districts (31.8, 26.2, 19.2, and 14.5 cases per 100,000, respectively) was significantly higher than the statewide incidence. Only 142 (27%) cases occurred among residents of the metropolitan area (4.6 per 100,000). Fifty-six (11%) cases were hospitalized, for a median of 4 days (range, 2 to 31 days). Three deaths were reported.
Fourteen confirmed outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were identified, accounting for 34 laboratoryconfirmed cases. Five recreational water outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis occurred, accounting for 108 cases (15 laboratory-confirmed). Three occurred at campgrounds (Goodhue, Le Sueur, and Waseca Counties), one was associated with a splash pad (Carver County), and one occurred at a municipal pool (Nicollet County). Two outbreaks associated with animal contact accounted for 8 cases (5 laboratory-confirmed); these outbreaks occurred in Rock and Stevens Counties. Seven outbreaks due to person-to-person transmission at child care centers accounted for 30 cases (14 laboratory-confirmed); the outbreaks occurred in Blue Earth (n=2), Kandiyohi (n=2), Carver, Fillmore, and Stearns Counties.