US Cyclospora Outbreak Widens as Lettuce-Related Cases Spread to Four More States

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By Melos Ambaye, Jessica Nix and Daniela Sirtori, Bloomberg

The cyclosporiasis outbreak that's sickened thousands of people in the US is spreading further, as federal health officials link four more states to tainted iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tied Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania to the surge in cases that originally emerged in Michigan. This development comes as the CDC linked nearly 2,000 cases in nine states to the lettuce, including Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, with thousands more people reporting infections to their local health departments.

The outbreak, which is primarily affecting the Midwest, is a stark reminder of the importance of food safety regulations and the need for better tracking of produce imports. The CDC and Food and Drug Administration have been working closely together to investigate the source of the contamination, and have identified several key factors that Contributed to the spread of the disease. Firstly, the use of contaminated water sources in the production of the lettuce was identified as a major factor, as well as inadequate handling and storage procedures. Additionally, some farms may not have had adequate sanitation and hygiene procedures in place, leading to cross-contamination of produce.

US authorities previously tied the illnesses in the Midwest to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell. Taylor Farms recalled products sent to 27 states and suspended all iceberg lettuce sourcing from central Mexico, as well as production there. The CDC and Food and Drug Administration said people should throw away the recalled lettuce. "We've commissioned independent experts to conduct a top-to-bottom review of food safety processes and protocols in our central Mexico facility," the company said. "We continue to work with health authorities, customers, and independent farming partners to address this issue," they added.

Infections from the diarrhea-causing cyclospora parasite increase in the warmer summer months, and new cases continue to emerge in other parts of the country. At least 41 states have reported infections in recent weeks and more than 300 people have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. North Carolina health officials reported more than 560 infections since July 20, and said Friday that some were linked to parsley, cilantro, and lettuce. It's not part of the original Midwest cluster connected to Taco Bell, the health department said.

The FDA is investigating another cyclospora outbreak, with 72 cases tied to an unknown source, the agency said on Wednesday. Mexican authorities said late Thursday that tests on lettuce and water samples from a Taylor Farms facility in Mexico were negative for cyclospora. The FDA previously reported a false positive on the company's lettuce, though it said Friday "this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA's ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms."

The cyclospora parasite is a highly contagious and debilitating illness that causes severe diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue. It is often associated with travel to tropical or subtropical regions, but in this case, the outbreak is occurring in the US and appears to be linked to contaminated produce. The CDC has said that the risk of getting infected with cyclospora from food is relatively low, but the number of cases is still alarming.

The Washington Post first reported the newly affected states on Friday. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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