Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce expands to 4 more states

Key Points:

• The cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico has expanded to nine states, with Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania newly affected, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• The outbreak, tied to Taylor Farms’ iceberg lettuce, has resulted in thousands of cyclosporiasis cases this year, significantly surpassing the typical 200 to 1,000 annual cases.
• Cyclospora is a parasite causing gastrointestinal illness with severe diarrhea, sometimes requiring hospitalization, and symptoms can take weeks to appear, complicating outbreak tracing.
• Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and supplies major retailers and restaurant chains such as Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, and Taco Bell.
• The CDC has confirmed over 4,000 cases nationally, with state health departments reporting even higher numbers, including 7,664 confirmed cases in Michigan alone; meanwhile, the FDA is investigating a separate cyclospora outbreak from an unspecified product.