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Cyclospora outbreak tied to lettuce now involves 20 US states
AP News • • business
Key Points:
- Federal health officials have confirmed parasitic illness cases linked to recalled iceberg lettuce in 20 states, with the total number of sickened individuals rising to 11,458.
- The FDA identified new cases in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas, expanding the outbreak linked to lettuce grown at a Taylor Farms operation in central Mexico.
- The FDA, CDC, and state officials continue inspecting and testing produce at the implicated farm, assuring that all recalled iceberg lettuce related to the outbreak is off the market.
- Cyclospora, the parasite responsible for the illness cyclosporiasis, causes severe watery diarrhea and spreads through fecal contamination, with outbreaks typically occurring in late spring and summer.
- This year's cyclospora cases in the U.S. have reached about 29,000, with 922 hospitalizations, surpassing the previous worst year in 2019 when 4,700 illnesses were reported.
