America’s largest outbreak of deadly explosive diarrhea-causing cyclosporiasis may have just gotten even bigger. Recalled iceberg lettuce from a Mexican Taylor Farms facility was possibly distributed in nine more areas than previously reported, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
Those states and jurisdictions include California, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The agency previously reported that the products had been distributed at restaurants and retail stores in nearly three dozen states from late June to July. More than 27,000 cases of the parasitic illness - caused by exposure to the parasite cyclospora - have been reported across more than 40 states, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Two people infected with cyclosporiasis have died in Michigan, the hardest-hit state. Michigan has seen 14,277 cases and 335 hospitalizations from illnesses, according to state health officials. Some people there were sickened after eating at the fast-food chain Taco Bell, which has pulled the lettuce from its restaurants.
Affected products should no longer be available for sale in stores or restaurants and the best-by dates for recalled products have passed. But this isn’t the only outbreak the FDA is monitoring. Smaller outbreaks with unknown origins are continuing to see cyclosporiasis cases rise.
The largest of those saw infections jump from 172 to 201 over the last few days. Infections are only spread by humans. The parasite cyclospora lives in human waste, and can hitch a ride in water that is sprayed on crops or be passed along when an individual handles contaminated produce.
Past outbreaks have been tied to cilantro, raspberries, basil and snow peas. Lettuce has also been tied to previous outbreaks in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Cases are typically not life-threatening - but usually uncomfortable.
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