Health officials in the United States have linked cases of a parasitic illness in 15 states to iceberg lettuce, as reported on Wednesday. Cyclospora cases have emerged in at least 47 states throughout the year. Investigations are ongoing to determine how many cases connect to a single contaminated source.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that the states involved in this significant outbreak have increased from nine to 15. Newly added states include Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. Previously identified states are Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Initial suspicions focused on lettuce used at Taco Bell. Federal officials later pinpointed Taylor Farms as the source, and the company has issued a recall for iceberg lettuce cultivated in central Mexico. Dr. Juan Luis Marquez, a medical director at the health departments in Michigan, explained reasons for the difficulty in investigating and controlling cyclospora outbreaks. These include a time lag between exposure and symptom onset, challenges with laboratory analysis, and the extensive effort required for conducting interviews with affected individuals to identify common exposures.
Dr. Marquez also highlighted reduced public health staffing at federal, state, and local levels, leading to diminished resources and capacity. Cyclospora is a microscopic, spherical parasite that causes watery diarrhea, often with frequent and explosive bowel movements, according to the CDC. Outbreaks usually peak in late spring and summer as the parasite thrives in warm conditions. While cyclosporiasis is less common than salmonella or E. coli, it can be challenging to trace to a particular food source.
In 2019, the U.S. reported around 4,700 infections, marking the worst year on record for this illness. This year, the number has significantly increased. Michigan alone reported over 12,000 cases, including two fatalities. The national total now exceeds 25,000 cases.
The FDA is currently monitoring five separate cyclospora outbreaks. The outbreak affecting 15 states is notably the largest. Other outbreaks, while ongoing, have not been linked to any specific products. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.