Cyclosporiasis outbreak spreads to six additional states, CDC reports

The multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce has been confirmed in six new states—Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Carolina—joining 11 states already reporting cases, according to a source familiar with the investigation. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said it had recorded 1,095 cases as of Sunday, nearly double the previous week’s total.

The parasite, which spreads through contaminated food and causes watery diarrhea, has sickened more than 22,000 people and led to 517 hospitalizations nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Michigan recorded the first two deaths linked to the outbreak, both involving individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

"With an incubation period up to two weeks, there should no longer be people newly getting sick from that product," said Dr. Stephen Ostroff, a former acting FDA commissioner.

"But it takes a while for people to seek health care after onset, get tested and diagnosed, reported to state health departments and then to CDC," he added.

Most cases have been traced to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and sourced from central Mexico, which the company voluntarily recalled last month. The FDA has not identified additional sources. Ostroff noted that the newly reported cases may reflect infections from the recalled lettuce that were diagnosed later, and that the product’s use-by dates expired on Aug. 3.

"We may have solved the Taylor Farms shredded lettuce piece, but that’s unlikely to explain everything we’re seeing," Ostroff said.

Officials continue to monitor the situation as they investigate whether any other contaminated food sources are involved.