U.S. Cyclospora Outbreak Reaches 41 States and Nearly 12,000 Cases as Taco Bell Lettuce Probe Widens
Updated
Updated · TODAY · Jul 24
U.S. Cyclospora Outbreak Reaches 41 States and Nearly 12,000 Cases as Taco Bell Lettuce Probe Widens
3 articles · Updated · TODAY · Jul 24
Summary
Nearly 12,000 confirmed and probable cyclosporiasis cases have been reported across 41 states since May 1, with at least 308 hospitalizations and no deaths, making it the largest U.S. outbreak on record.
Nine states are now tied to the Taco Bell-linked outbreak after the CDC added Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania; about 2,000 cases in that cluster have been linked to shredded lettuce supplied by Taylor Fresh Foods.
Taylor Fresh recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, and the FDA warned consumers not to eat recalled products sold to restaurants and Walmart under the Marketside brand in 27 states.
Michigan remains the hardest-hit state with 8,176 cases and 160 hospitalizations, while Ohio has more than 2,500 cases; North Carolina and New York are also seeing separate surges.
Investigators say more than one contaminated food or water source may be driving infections nationwide, with North Carolina examining parsley and cilantro and the CDC expecting cases to keep rising through August.