Cyclospora Cases Top 11,500 in 41 States as Mexican Lettuce Probe Widens
Updated
Updated · TODAY · Jul 23
Cyclospora Cases Top 11,500 in 41 States as Mexican Lettuce Probe Widens
3 articles · Updated · TODAY · Jul 23
Summary
More than 11,500 confirmed or probable Cyclospora cases have been reported in 41 states since May 1, with 308 hospitalizations—far above the roughly 3,000 cases seen in a typical year.
Michigan anchors the surge with 7,664 cases and 160 hospitalizations, and ER doctors there say some shifts have been dominated by patients with prolonged watery diarrhea, severe cramping and exhaustion.
Health officials have identified shredded iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico and sold at Taco Bell as a potential source in the five-state core outbreak, though investigators say other food sources are likely also driving cases.
Cyclospora symptoms usually begin 2 to 14 days after exposure, making the source hard to trace; diagnosis requires a specialized stool test because the parasite is not included in routine GI panels.
The infection rarely spreads person-to-person and is usually not life-threatening, but dehydration can send vulnerable patients to the hospital; treatment, when needed, is typically a 7- to 10-day TMP-SMX antibiotic course.