A large multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that can cause weeks of explosive diarrhea if left untreated, has been linked to lettuce sold at restaurants such as Taco Bell and some grocery stores. The outbreak, which has been tied to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, has now spread to 15 states, with six new states – Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina – added to the list.

Outbreak Details

According to federal health officials, the outbreak has resulted in over 6,000 reported cases, with nearly 300 hospitalizations and two deaths. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has implemented a level 3 emergency response to the outbreak, which means the agency is actively monitoring and working on the situation, although the risk to the general public is low.

Taylor Farms de Mexico has recalled all iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico, including in salad kits sold in grocery stores, as a precautionary measure. Taco Bell has also removed affected shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms from its restaurants in certain states.

Experts believe that the outbreak may not be expanding, but rather, the number of reported cases is increasing as more people who were already sick are being counted. The CDC has identified over 22,700 cases of domestic cyclosporiasis this season, with 10,468 cases confirmed and over 12,200 others undergoing further laboratory testing.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.