Additional Coverage:
- Cyclosporiasis outbreak expands to 9 states (nbcnews.com)
The multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak has now spread to nine states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of Friday. Initially reported in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, the outbreak has expanded to include Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.
While this development does not necessarily indicate a surge in new cases, it offers a more comprehensive understanding of the unusually high number of infections recorded this summer. Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of the CDC’s Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases division, emphasized that ongoing interviews and data collection are helping to clarify the scope of the outbreak.
To date, the CDC has confirmed 1,947 cases across the nine states. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as the likely source and last week the company voluntarily recalled the product from the U.S. market.
Kari Irvin, deputy director of the FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network, noted that the lettuce had been distributed widely across multiple states and points of sale. The FDA continues to monitor confirmed case numbers closely to assess the effectiveness of the recall and to ensure all contaminated products have been removed.
A key link between the outbreak and Taylor Farms came from interviews with affected individuals, many of whom had dined at Taco Bell in June-prior to the spike in cases. In response, Taco Bell removed lettuce from its menu before the official recall was announced.
FDA investigators are still working to determine whether other growers might be involved, though current evidence points primarily to those already identified.
The Washington Post was the first to report the outbreak’s spread to four additional states.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the cyclospora parasite, which can cling to fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and is resistant to washing. The parasite spreads through water contaminated with human feces, complicating efforts to control its transmission.
While iceberg lettuce linked to Taylor Farms is a major factor, it is unlikely to be the sole source of infection. Nationwide, there are nearly 12,000 confirmed or suspected cases, with Michigan bearing the heaviest burden at nearly 8,000 infections. To assist with investigations, the CDC has deployed staff to Ohio, which has reported 2,596 cases.
Several other states have reported hundreds of cases outside of the confirmed multistate outbreaks. New York has seen 632 cases since May, and North Carolina has reported 561. Preliminary investigations in North Carolina suggest that parsley and cilantro may be associated with those cases.
Irvin confirmed that the FDA is pursuing multiple investigations simultaneously, reflecting the varied potential sources of cyclosporiasis outbreaks this season.
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- Cyclosporiasis outbreak expands to 9 states (nbcnews.com)