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Cyclosporiasis outbreak now linked to 9 states. See which ones
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- A cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to a parasitic infection has now affected nine U.S. states, including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, up from five states previously reported.
- Since May 1, over 4,100 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported nationwide across 41 states, though the true number is likely higher due to underreporting and delayed testing.
- The outbreak in Michigan has been connected to recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, but other smaller outbreaks with unidentified sources are also under investigation by the FDA and CDC.
- Tracking the source of cyclosporiasis is challenging due to the parasite's long incubation period and lack of genetic tools for tracing, complicating outbreak investigations.
- Controversy surrounds Taylor Farms, which denied a false-positive FDA test and faced criticism from U.S. officials for allegedly misleading statements, while Mexican authorities have not confirmed the outbreak's origin in Mexico.
