Cyclospora outbreak sickens more than 4,100 people across the US
The CDC says 308 people have been hospitalized in 41 states, with no deaths reported, as investigators examine lettuce links.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
A Cyclospora outbreak has infected more than 4,100 people in the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The case count matters because federal officials say thousands more suspected infections remain under review and many cases have been tied to lettuce.
The CDC said Tuesday that 308 people with confirmed cyclosporiasis had been hospitalized across 41 states. The agency said no deaths had been reported.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, the CDC said. Symptoms usually begin about a week after a person eats contaminated food or drinks contaminated water, and the illness can cause frequent diarrhea that lasts for weeks.
The CDC said about 7,400 suspected infections were still being reviewed. The agency cautioned that the confirmed total was expected to increase as health officials assessed those reports.
Lettuce recall and investigation
Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce on July 17 after US investigators identified Mexican facilities as a likely source of the outbreak, according to federal authorities cited in the case. The lettuce had been grown in Mexico and shipped to US stores and restaurants.
The investigation has focused in part on lettuce products, the CDC said. Federal officials have not reported a death connected to the outbreak, and the recall came as health agencies worked to trace the supply chain.
Mexico’s health secretary, David Kershenobich, rejected the idea that investigators had proven the outbreak began in Guanajuato, the central Mexican state under review. He said Tuesday that authorities had found no evidence showing the outbreak originated there.
FDA statements changed over the weekend
The US Food and Drug Administration has given shifting information about the evidence pointing to the outbreak’s source. On Saturday, the FDA said a sample of Mexican lettuce from Taylor Farms had tested positive for Cyclospora.
On Sunday, the FDA said that result was a false positive after officials re-examined the data. On Monday, the agency said its supply-chain investigation still pointed to Taylor Farms facilities in Mexico as the source of the parasite.
The CDC and FDA investigations are continuing. Health officials have warned that the number of confirmed infections could rise as suspected cases are reviewed and linked to the outbreak.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.