Cyclospora outbreak with 72 cases is under FDA investigation
The FDA opened its sixth Cyclospora outbreak inquiry this year as CDC data show more than 11,500 cases across 41 states.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday it is investigating a new Cyclospora outbreak with 72 cases, adding to a sharp rise in reported illnesses tied to the foodborne parasite. The case count matters because Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data already show far more U.S. cases this year than are typically reported in an entire year.
The FDA did not identify where the 72 illnesses occurred or name a suspected food source. The agency said a traceback investigation is underway, meaning investigators are trying to follow a possible contaminated food item back through its supply chain.
What is the Cyclospora outbreak with 72 cases?
Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite that can cause cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness associated with watery diarrhea, according to federal health agencies. The FDA’s new 72-case inquiry is the sixth Cyclospora outbreak investigation the agency has opened this year.
The FDA has not said whether the new cluster is connected to any earlier outbreak. It also has not released information about the states involved or the foods investigators are examining.
Cases have climbed across dozens of states
The CDC has received reports of more than 11,500 cyclosporiasis cases from 41 states, including 4,173 confirmed cases and more than 7,400 probable cases. The CDC reports 308 hospitalizations and no deaths among those cases.
CDC data show the United States has reported about 2,000 to 5,000 Cyclospora cases annually in recent years. The current total, reached by July, is already above that range.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told NBC News earlier this week that the situation was “under control.” HHS includes both the FDA and CDC.
Earlier outbreak was linked to iceberg lettuce
The FDA and CDC said last week that one previously identified outbreak was linked to shredded iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico and distributed by Taylor Farms. Federal officials said some of that lettuce was served at Taco Bell locations, and linked illnesses were identified in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
Michigan has reported 7,664 cases and 106 hospitalizations as of July 23, according to the figures cited by federal investigators. Taylor Farms issued a recall that led to the removal of iceberg lettuce distributed to 27 states.
The FDA said some of the recalled lettuce was sold at Walmart stores. Media reports also found the lettuce went to Jack in the Box restaurants and to food distributors Sysco and US Foods; it was also sold in blends containing romaine lettuce.
What investigators still do not know
The FDA has not said whether the latest 72-case outbreak comes from a different source than the lettuce-linked outbreak. Without location data or a named food product, consumers do not yet have specific guidance tied to the new investigation.
Ars Technica reported that HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and that other outlets, including The New York Times, also reported no response from the FDA and CDC about the new outbreak. Ars Technica also reported that the FDA and CDC have faced budget and staffing cuts under the Trump administration.
Beyond the six Cyclospora investigations, the FDA lists 10 other open foodborne outbreak inquiries. Those include investigations involving Salmonella, E. coli, Clostridium botulinum and Listeria monocytogenes.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.