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Federal health officials link a large multistate cyclospora outbreak to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that a major cyclosporiasis outbreak has spread across 15 states. The parasite, which causes frequent and explosive diarrhea, has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico by produce giant Taylor Farms. The company initiated a recall of its products on July 17 out of an abundance of caution. While the outbreak is the largest nationwide, the CDC is tracking five separate ongoing outbreaks. The 15-state outbreak includes Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina, which were recently added to the list. Investigators are currently focusing on Taylor Farms as the primary source, though some experts suggest other produce may also be implicated. The national total of cases has surpassed 25,000, with Michigan reporting over 12,000 cases and two deaths. The CDC has implemented a level 3 emergency response, indicating that while the risk to the general public is low, the agency is actively monitoring the situation and repurposing staff to assist in the investigation.

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