The massive outbreak of cyclosporiasis affecting several states has spread to nine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported this Friday.
Outbreaks in Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania have now been linked to cases in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, as well as Michigan, one of the hardest-hit states.
This finding does not necessarily mean that cases are accelerating, but it offers a clearer picture of what has been so unusual about the record number of cyclosporiasis cases recorded this summer.
“We are getting more complete data on cases spanning the full scope of the outbreak,” said Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of the CDC’s department of foodborne, waterborne, and environmental diseases. “The states are completing interviews with affected people and we are completing the data.”
The CDC has confirmed 1,947 cases in those nine states. Shredded Iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in Mexico is the likely source, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported last week. The company voluntarily withdrew the product from the US market.
Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne infection caused by a parasite that tends to attach to fresh produce, including fruits, vegetables, and herbs, making it difficult to wash away. The parasite, called Cyclospora, spreads through water contaminated with human feces.
Symptoms include explosive, watery diarrhea. People may also experience unusually severe gas, stomach cramps, nausea, and loss of appetite.
