AI Generated Image
Cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US, by the numbers
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- A large outbreak of cyclosporiasis, caused by the parasite Cyclospora, is affecting multiple US states, with nearly 7,000 cases identified this season and a significant multistate outbreak centered in the Midwest.
- The outbreak has been linked primarily to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, which has been recalled, including lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
- Symptoms of cyclosporiasis, which can take up to two weeks to appear, include watery diarrhea, cramping, and fatigue, with at least 94 hospitalizations reported but no deaths so far.
- This outbreak is likely the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in US history, surpassing previous outbreaks that involved fewer than 1,500 cases, and it may become the largest foodborne illness outbreak recorded if all cases are confirmed.
- Other gastrointestinal pathogens, including E. coli and viruses, remain common causes of stomach issues in the US, but Cyclospora infections have surged sharply in recent weeks according to laboratory surveillance data.
