Overview
- A CDC update on July 29 reported about 6,700 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis and more than 18,000 suspected reports under review while Michigan health officials said the state has recorded 10,077 confirmed cases.
- FDA and state tracebacks have strongly linked a large multistate cluster to shredded iceberg lettuce provided by Taylor Farms and served at some Taco Bell locations, prompting voluntary recalls and product removals.
- A previously announced positive test on a Taylor Farms lettuce sample was later characterized as a false positive, and Cyclospora’s resistance to routine lab culturing has limited direct product confirmation.
- Hundreds of people have been hospitalized and no deaths reported, clinicians say specific stool testing is needed to diagnose Cyclospora and the standard treatment is trimethoprim‑sulfamethoxazole; officials advise buying whole heads of lettuce, discarding outer leaves, washing inner leaves, or cooking greens to 158°F to reduce risk.
- The outbreak has strained public-health labs and supply chains, prompted early lawsuits and consumer avoidance of some produce and restaurants, and investigators continue epidemiologic interviews and targeted testing to find other possible sources.