Federal health authorities have widened their investigation into a cyclospora outbreak to include four new states, bringing the total number of affected jurisdictions to eight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania are now part of the inquiry, which is linked to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell locations.
Previously, the outbreak was confined to Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The total number of confirmed cases associated with the lettuce has risen to 1,947. At least 98 individuals required hospitalization, though no fatalities have been reported.
The CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and various state health departments are currently tracing the lettuce supply chain and interviewing individuals who became ill approximately two weeks after eating affected food. Officials note that the actual number of sickened people is likely higher than the official count because not all cases are reported.
FDA investigators have identified lettuce from Taylor Farms as the probable source. The company recently issued a recall for iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. Mexican health authorities visited the Taylor Farms facility in Guanajuato between July 18 and 20, collecting ten lettuce samples and four water samples. They announced Thursday that the parasite was not detected in those samples.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes intestinal illness, often resulting in frequent bowel movements, when food comes into contact with contaminated water or human waste. Since May 1, the CDC has received reports of more than 4,100 laboratory-confirmed cases and is investigating over 7,400 likely cases across 41 states, setting a national record.
