Cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce now linked to 15 states, CDC says
cbsnews.com • • business
Key Points:
- U.S. health officials have linked cyclospora cases in 15 states to contaminated iceberg lettuce, expanding the outbreak from nine to 15 states, including Arkansas, Iowa, and North Carolina.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are focusing on Taylor Farms' iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico, which has been recalled amid the investigation.
- Cyclospora infections have surged this year, with over 25,000 cases reported nationwide, including more than 12,000 in Michigan, where two deaths have occurred among patients with underlying health conditions.
- The investigation is complicated by the parasite's incubation period, laboratory analysis challenges, and reduced public health staffing, making it difficult to trace and contain the outbreak promptly.
- Cyclospora causes severe watery diarrhea and is typically spread through fecal contamination; outbreaks usually peak in late spring and summer, and many cases remain unlinked to specific food sources.
