Federal health officials say a parasitic illness outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce has now spread to 20 states, making it the largest U.S. outbreak of its kind.
The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that 11,458 people have been sickened by cyclospora, an increase from roughly 10,900 cases reported last week. Three additional states — Georgia, Tennessee and Texas — have now reported cases.
The outbreak has also affected Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Two people have died in connection with the outbreak, both in Michigan. State health officials said both had significant underlying health conditions.
The FDA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health authorities have been investigating iceberg lettuce grown at a farm in central Mexico operated by Taylor Farms, a major U.S. produce supplier.
CBS News previously reported that the FDA last inspected Taylor Farms de Mexico, identified as a potential source of the outbreak, seven years before the current cyclosporiasis outbreak.
FDA officials said they continue to inspect and test produce at the farm in cooperation with Mexican authorities. The agency said it remains confident that all recalled iceberg lettuce connected to the outbreak has been removed from the market.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the intestines and can cause watery diarrhea, including frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements, according to the CDC. The illness, known as cyclosporiasis, is more common during the late spring and summer months.
The parasite spreads through fecal contamination and thrives in warm conditions. While cyclosporiasis is less common than foodborne illnesses caused by pathogens such as salmonella and E. coli, many cases are never traced to a specific food or source.
The CDC reported earlier this week that approximately 17,180 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases have been recorded in the U.S. this year, along with 922 hospitalizations. The current outbreak has already far surpassed the nation’s previous worst year for reported infections: about 4,700 cases in 2019.
