Cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to shredded lettuce expands to six additional states

A cyclosporiasis outbreak associated with shredded iceberg lettuce has expanded to six more states, bringing the total to 15 states affected since early May. The newly identified states are Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 1,095 cases as of August 5, nearly double the previous week's count. The outbreak has resulted in hundreds of hospitalizations and two deaths. The majority of cases have been traced to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, which issued a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The FDA has not identified any other potential sources. Dr. Stephen Ostroff, a former acting FDA commissioner, noted that the newly linked cases may involve individuals who consumed the recalled lettuce weeks ago but were only recently diagnosed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 22,000 confirmed or suspected cases of cyclosporiasis, with 517 hospitalizations. Health officials in Michigan confirmed the first deaths linked to this outbreak, noting that both individuals had underlying health conditions.