Two Oregon residents diagnosed with Cyclospora amid nationwide lettuce recall

Oregon health authorities have confirmed that two residents contracted Cyclospora infections after traveling to states involved in a nationwide recall of pre-shredded iceberg lettuce. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) said the patients’ identities will not be disclosed.

The recalled lettuce, which was voluntarily removed from shelves on July 17, has not been reported as distributed in Oregon. OHA emphasized that the parasite cannot be transmitted directly from person to person and that the state has not observed an unusual increase in cases, reporting 23 cases this year, a figure consistent with recent years.

"More cases linked to the national outbreak could appear as travelers return from affected areas or as investigators identify additional contaminated products," an OHA spokesperson said.

OHA advises residents to wash hands and food-preparation surfaces frequently, rinse fresh produce under running water, and cook foods to appropriate temperatures to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.