A significant outbreak of cyclosporiasis, linked to shredded iceberg lettuce, has now spread to six more states, as confirmed by an insider. The outbreak has resulted in hundreds of hospitalizations and unfortunately, two fatalities since early May.
The new states include Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. These states join others such as Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The Missouri Department of Health has reported a sharp rise in cases, noting 1,095 reported cases as of Sunday—more than double from the previous week.
This recent update highlights a serious growth in cyclosporiasis, which can cause severe watery diarrhea, among other symptoms. However, Dr. Stephen Ostroff, a former acting commissioner of the FDA, pointed out that the addition of these states does not necessarily mean the outbreak is still spreading.
Most cases have been traced back to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell, supplied by Taylor Farms and sourced from central Mexico. Last month, Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce from this region, which was sent to restaurants and stores across 27 states.
The FDA has not yet identified other potential sources besides Taylor Farms. Dr. Ostroff noted that the newly reported cases may involve individuals who consumed the recalled lettuce weeks ago but were only recently diagnosed and reported.
“With an incubation period of up to two weeks, we shouldn’t see new illnesses from that product now,” he explained. “But it takes time for individuals to seek care and be diagnosed.” He likened the investigation to putting together a jigsaw puzzle, suggesting that as more information comes in, investigators will be able to see the full picture.
As of now, over 22,000 people have been reported to have confirmed or suspected cases of cyclosporiasis, with 517 of those hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On Monday, Michigan, which has reported the highest number of cases, confirmed the first deaths tied to this outbreak. Both victims had underlying health issues that may have worsened their conditions due to the illness and dehydration.
Dr. Ostroff emphasized that the main concern regarding the newly linked states is when their patients began showing symptoms. He assured that recalled lettuce from Taylor Farms should no longer be on the market, with its use-by dates having passed. If people continue to get sick after that time, authorities may need to investigate different sources.
“We might have addressed the issue with Taylor Farms shredded lettuce, but that might not explain all the cases we’re observing,” he concluded.
