The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in U.S. history has expanded to nine states.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that a major multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a diarrheal illness caused by the cyclospora parasite, has now spread to nine states. The outbreak is linked to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The nine affected states include Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Michigan has been the hardest hit, reporting more than 8,100 cases. Federal health officials are currently tracking over 11,500 total cases across the country, with thousands of additional reports still undergoing laboratory confirmation. The outbreak is considered one of the largest foodborne illness events in the last three decades. Taylor Farms, a major food supplier, voluntarily recalled its iceberg lettuce from central Mexico out of an abundance of caution. Experts note that tracking the parasite is challenging because symptoms often appear weeks after ingestion. Health officials recommend washing, scrubbing, and refrigerating produce to minimize infection risks.