15 states now implicated in Cyclospora outbreak

According to the Washington Post, there are six more states involved in an outbreak of infections from the Cyclospora parasite that are associated with Taco Bell restaurants and/or Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce.

On Tuesday afternoon the Post reported that Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Missouri are now on the CDC list that already included Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 

The newspaper’s report cites unnamed sources. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not updated its state list as of the evening of August. 4. No one at the CDC responded to the paper’s request for confirmation.

The patient count for the Cyclospora outbreak in those 15 states stands at 21,393 cases — Michigan alone reports 11,508, including two deaths. The federal figure for the outbreak is 1,947.

“Whatever number CDC posts when it finally updates the page, hold it up against 21,393, because that is what the health departments of those fifteen states are already telling their own residents. However, how many above the 1,947 are linked to Taylor Farms and/or Taco Bell is still a guess,” said Bill Marler, food safety attorney and expert.

The CDC is reporting that 47 states are involved in separate cyclospora outbreaks and puts that patient count at 10,468 lab-confirmed and 12,255 additional cases that need further investigation. Add those together and CDC is now describing 22,723 people. The fifty state health departments are reporting 23,295.

For the 15-state outbreak, Michigan was the first to begin reporting. It interviewed patients and found a link to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms and served on Taco Bell menu items. Taco Bell immediately stopped serving Taylor Farms lettuce sourced from the company’s Central Mexico operations. On July 17 Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce from that farm.

Taylor Farms has stated that it sent the lettuce to 27 states that do not include Nebraska. However, many patients in Nebraska reported eating at Taco Bell restaurants before becoming ill. This suggests that the lettuce was further distributed by Taco Bell and possible other Taylor Farms customers. 

State totals as of August. 4: