Federal Agencies to Update Cyclospora Outbreak Figures After Michigan Deaths
Two deaths linked to the Cyclospora outbreak in Michigan prompted federal health officials to say they will revise national case, hospitalization and death counts this week.
Michigan health officials reported Monday that two people died after contracting Cyclospora, a rare foodborne parasite that has caused a record-breaking diarrheal outbreak across the United States. Both decedents had significant underlying health conditions that may have been worsened by the infection and dehydration, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
The outbreak, traced to shredded iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico and distributed by Taylor Farms, has affected at least nine states and resulted in thousands of illnesses. While the state updated its figures promptly, the Food and Drug Administration’s outbreak page has not been refreshed since late July, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data still omit the two deaths.
"FDA and CDC plan to update overall illness numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths this week," HHS Press Secretary Emily Hilliard said in response to a query about the missing data.
State reports estimate between 17,000 and 23,000 cases nationwide, with Michigan alone recording over 11,000 cases and 193 hospitalizations. Other states continue to see rising numbers; Missouri, for example, reported a near-doubling of cases in early August.
Federal officials indicated that revised national statistics would be released later in the week, aiming to provide a more current picture of the outbreak’s impact.