Federal health officials have expanded their investigation into a cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce to include four additional states: Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. This is part of the largest U.S. cyclospora outbreak, initially associated with Taco Bell restaurants.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had previously investigated the outbreak in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The CDC, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state health officials are working together to trace the lettuce supply and interview individuals affected by the outbreak. Currently, the outbreak includes 1,947 cases tied to lettuce served at Taco Bell, with 98 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported.
The official case number is likely underreported, as not all cases come to the agency’s attention. The FDA is focusing their investigation on lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms. Recently, Taylor Farms announced a recall of its iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. Furthermore, the FDA is investigating a separate outbreak of cyclospora affecting 72 individuals, although the products involved have not been identified.
Since May 1, the CDC has received more than 4,100 laboratory-confirmed reports and is examining over 7,400 other cases across 41 states. Health officials caution that other brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels may be linked to the outbreak.
Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite, contaminates food through contact with human feces, often via produce being irrigated or washed with tainted water. Ingesting the parasite results in intestinal illness characterized by “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC.
On Thursday, Mexican health officials reported no detection of the parasite in lettuce or water samples from the Taylor Farms plant located in Guanajuato, Mexico. This announcement followed a site visit between July 18 and 20, where samples were collected for analysis.
The associated press coverage in health and science is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.