Cyclospora outbreak dubbed "lettuce-gate" as concerns over parasitic illness spread across U.S.

Key Points:

• The cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce has spread to nine states, with 1,947 confirmed cases and at least 98 hospitalizations reported, though no deaths have occurred, according to the CDC.
• Taylor Farms, identified as the source of the contaminated lettuce from central Mexico, has voluntarily suspended iceberg lettuce production and issued a broad recall, despite the Mexican government finding no evidence of the parasite in their tests.
• Conflicting test results and ongoing investigations have fueled public concern and confusion, with the FDA noting that their data still points to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms as a primary source.
• Health officials suspect multiple outbreaks across 41 states, with over 4,100 laboratory-confirmed and 7,400 suspected cases since May 1, and warn that confirmed numbers are likely to rise due to the lengthy incubation period of cyclospora.
• A new cyclospora outbreak linked to unspecified products has also been reported by the FDA, with North Carolina investigating over 560 cases potentially connected to parsley, cilantro, and lettuce.