CDC declares record-breaking cyclosporiasis outbreak over after almost 13,000 cases

Federal health officials on Friday declared the largest-ever cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States has ended. The cyclosporiasis outbreak was tied to iceberg lettuce grown by produce giant Taylor Farms in Mexico, sickening 12,883 people across 21 states since May 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“At this time, there is no risk of people getting sick with cyclosporiasis from this source,” the CDC wrote in the agency’s final update on the outbreak. Two people with “significant underlying health conditions” died in Michigan, according to authorities. The state was one of the hardest hit by the outbreak, with 11,234 outbreak-related cases and 193 hospitalizations by the start of last month.The CDC is still investigating several case clusters of the parasitic illness nationwide, and has recorded a total of 19,595 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration is also continuing to investigate cyclospora, with five outbreaks still under investigation, according to the FDA’s foodborne illness investigations page.“The number of recent infections linked to the outbreak has significantly declined,” the CDC’s page for the lettuce outbreak said. “The contaminated lettuce linked to this outbreak is no longer available in stores or restaurants.”Authorities tied the outbreak at Taco Bell, which used shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms, to many of the cases. Taylor Farms recalled multiple lettuce products on July 17, and the FDA sent investigators to Mexico to inspect its operations in Mexico in August.WHAT IS CYCLOSPORIASIS, AND WHAT ARE THE HIGHEST-RISK STATES?Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection often contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with human feces infected by the cyclospora cayetanensis parasite. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.Past outbreaks have been tied to imported produce such as raspberries, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, snow peas, and basil, according to the CDC.