Key Takeaway:
- 17,180 confirmed cases: The Cyclosporiasis outbreak spans 48 states and Washington, D.C., with two deaths and 922 hospitalizations.
- Lettuce-linked outbreak: Recalled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico accounts for 10,930 cases across 17 states.
- Outbreak growth slows: New cases are still rising, but weekly increases have declined as officials investigate additional clusters.
Federal health officials report 17,180 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases across 48 states and Washington, D.C., as of Aug. 24, with two deaths and 922 hospitalizations linked to outbreaks under investigation.
CDC Reports More Cases, But Growth Slows
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says confirmed infections have increased by 1,464 since Aug. 18, although the weekly rise in cases linked to the Cyclosporiasis outbreak is smaller than in earlier reports, which regularly recorded more than 2,000 or 3,000 new cases.
The CDC also reports at least 11,841 additional infections awaiting laboratory confirmation. Its national figures can lag state reports by about six weeks because cases must be verified and formally reported to the federal agency.
New Mexico was added to the CDC’s list of states with confirmed cases. Delaware and Hawaii are the only states without federally confirmed cases, while Michigan and Ohio continue to report the largest numbers.
Michigan reported 14,277 cases as of Aug. 20, up from 13,909 on Aug. 11, according to state health officials. The state previously said the pace of new cases and related emergency department visits was slowing and advised residents they could resume their normal lettuce-eating habits as the Cyclosporiasis outbreak continued.
Lettuce Outbreak Accounts For 10,930 Cases
The largest identified Cyclosporiasis outbreak is linked to recalled iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico by Taylor Farms, according to the Food and Drug Administration and CDC.
The outbreak, initially identified through traceback involving Taco Bell, accounts for 10,930 cases and 454 hospitalizations across 17 states as of Aug. 20. Both deaths reported during the current outbreaks are associated with the lettuce-linked outbreak, according to the CDC.
Federal officials are investigating multiple other clusters as part of the ongoing Cyclosporiasis outbreak response. The FDA is tracking at least six additional clusters that have not been linked to a common source, and the CDC says it is unlikely that one source explains all the outbreaks nationwide.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis and is typically contracted through contaminated food or water. The infection commonly causes watery, frequent diarrhea, along with nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, bloating, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
The illness often goes unreported when people recover without medical care, while people with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions can face more serious complications during a Cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Taylor Farms Faces Scrutiny Over Response
Taylor Farms has faced criticism over its handling of the Cyclosporiasis outbreak investigation and a separate recall involving jalapeños connected to a growing multistate Salmonella outbreak.
California Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat and member of the House Oversight Committee, accused the company in a July letter of attempting to influence the FDA investigation and mislead the public. Taylor Farms denied the allegations.
“Taylor Farms categorically rejects any suggestion that the company has attempted or received favorable regulatory treatment,” the company said in a statement.
The company also drew criticism after a since-deleted statement said the FDA had apologized over a “false positive” involving its iceberg lettuce. The FDA later said the laboratory finding did not alter the basis of its investigation or the epidemiological evidence supporting the voluntary recall.
As the Cyclosporiasis outbreak investigation continued, Taylor Farms said it removed potentially implicated products, expanded its recall as a precaution and suspended iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from central Mexico. The company also said no confirmed positive product samples for Cyclospora had been identified as of Aug. 13.
The CDC count includes lab-confirmed cases occurring since May 1 among people who had not traveled internationally within 14 days before symptoms began.
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