Cyclosporiasis outbreak expands to 9 states - NBC News

What the report says

NBC News reported July 24 that a large cyclosporiasis outbreak linked by federal health officials to shredded iceberg lettuce has widened to nine states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said cases in Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania are now connected with illnesses in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Michigan, which has been especially affected. The CDC has confirmed 1,947 cases associated with that multistate cluster.

According to NBC, the Food and Drug Administration has identified shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as the likely source. The company voluntarily removed the product from the U.S. market, and Taco Bell had already taken lettuce off its menu after interviews with sick people indicated many had eaten at the chain in June. FDA officials said they are tracking CDC case data to assess whether the recall has captured the products that need to be pulled.

NBC reported that investigators are still examining whether other growers or foods may be involved. The article said there are nearly 12,000 confirmed or suspected cyclosporiasis cases nationwide based on CDC and state health department tallies, including nearly 8,000 in Michigan and 2,596 in Ohio. Other states not yet tied to the main multistate outbreak have also reported hundreds of illnesses.

Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne infection caused by the cyclospora parasite, which can cling to produce such as vegetables, fruit and herbs and is difficult to rinse away. NBC noted that federal officials have multiple cyclospora investigations open, including preliminary work in North Carolina that points to parsley and cilantro as possible sources there.