Cyclospora Outbreak Tops 17,500 U.S. Cases as Investigators Link Some Illnesses to Recalled Lettuce
Updated
Updated · Kfiz · Aug 6
Cyclospora Outbreak Tops 17,500 U.S. Cases as Investigators Link Some Illnesses to Recalled Lettuce
3 articles · Updated · Kfiz · Aug 6
Summary
More than 17,500 Cyclospora infections have been reported nationwide, making this the largest U.S. outbreak on record; Wisconsin alone counted 160 cases and three hospitalizations by July 30.
CDC and FDA investigators have linked part of the outbreak to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, which was voluntarily recalled earlier this month.
Contaminated irrigation or other field water is viewed as the most likely route, but officials still have not determined exactly how the human-waste-borne parasite entered the food supply.
Tracking the source has been slowed by cyclospora’s long symptom window, limited lab testing, asymptomatic infections and produce traceability problems when lettuce from multiple farms is mixed in processing.
The outbreak spans 45 states, with federal officials separately reviewing more than 6,000 cases since May 1 and another 11,500-plus reported through state and local health departments.