The United States is currently experiencing a concerning rise in cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by a tiny yet troublesome parasite.
According to recent figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday, there are now over 11,500 reported cases scattered across 41 states. Of these, around 4,100 have been confirmed through laboratory testing, while approximately 7,400 cases remain to be officially verified.
In a parallel investigation, health authorities are delving into an outbreak that seems to be linked to the shredded iceberg lettuce used at Taco Bell outlets in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
This particular lettuce was supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico, hailing from central Mexico. In response to these developments, the firm has proactively announced a voluntary recall of all its iceberg lettuce offerings.
While there’s been progress in identifying the affected regions and potential causes of the infection, several critical questions remain unanswered about the ongoing outbreak. Here’s what we’re still trying to uncover:
Scope of the outbreak
So far, the CDC has only confirmed 4,100 cases, but case counts reported by individual state health departments are higher.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed at least 7,171 cases linked to an outbreak, according to