US Cyclospora Cases Near 16,000 as Lettuce-Linked Outbreak Hits 9,481 in 17 States
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 19
US Cyclospora Cases Near 16,000 as Lettuce-Linked Outbreak Hits 9,481 in 17 States
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 19
Summary
15,716 lab-confirmed cyclospora infections have been reported across 47 states and Washington, DC, since May 1, with 1,821 new cases added in the CDC's latest weekly update.
Weekly increases are easing from prior jumps of 2,000 to 3,000 cases, but the outbreak has still caused 828 hospitalizations and two deaths; the CDC says another 11,841 suspected cases await lab confirmation.
Michigan remains the center of the largest cluster, reporting 14,277 total cases as of Aug. 20, while only Delaware, Hawaii and New Mexico have no federally confirmed infections.
The CDC has tied the biggest outbreak to recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico; that cluster alone accounts for 9,481 cases, 398 hospitalizations and both deaths across 17 states.
Officials say cyclospora is harder to trace than pathogens such as E. coli because of its long incubation period and limited testing tools, leaving multiple other outbreak clusters still under investigation.