A large-scale gastrointestinal illness outbreak tied to contaminated fresh produce has expanded significantly, reaching 1,947 laboratory-confirmed cases and 98 hospitalizations across 9 states.
Source and Distribution
The outbreak has been traced back to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico and grown in central Mexico. Epidemiologic evidence connects a substantial portion of exposures to menu items served at Taco Bell restaurants in several Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states, as well as retail products sold under Walmart’s Marketside brand.
The impacted states include:
- Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Understanding Cyclosporiasis
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes a diarrheal disease called cyclosporiasis. Unlike bacterial contamination, parasites like Cyclospora often cause lingering symptoms that can persist for weeks if untreated. Symptoms include:
- Persistent, watery diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping, bloating, and excessive gas
- Fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss
Because the incubation period ranges from days to weeks, health officials note a time lag in reporting, meaning the total case count may continue to rise as diagnostic testing catches up.
Public Health Actions
Health care facilities and infection prevention teams are urged to consider Cyclospora testing when evaluating patients with prolonged gastrointestinal illness who may have consumed fresh produce. Food service operators, retailers, and consumers are instructed to discard any recalled iceberg lettuce products and sanitize food contact surfaces.
