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Surge in Midwest Cases
Federal and state health officials are investigating whether Taco Bell restaurants played a role in one of the largest U.S. outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness caused by a parasite that contaminates fresh produce.
“Taco Bell voluntarily removes some ingredients at select restaurants amid cyclosporiasis outbreak Officials haven't confirmed a link between the outbreak and any restaurant”
The CDC said it has epidemiologically linked a "large" cyclosporiasis outbreak in at least four Midwest states—Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky—to a "likely common source," while deputy director Gwen Biggerstaff said, "Right now we don't have a specific source identified."
In those four states, the CDC reported illnesses in 400 people connected, with symptoms beginning on or after June 22, and it said it is working with state and local health departments and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to collect epidemiologic, trace-back and laboratory data.
Michigan investigators are zeroing in on lettuce and other salad greens as potential sources, and the state reported 3,309 cases as of 9:30 a.m. July 14.
The CDC also said it expects case numbers to continue rising "possibly through the end of August, which is the end of the cyclosporiasis season," as it continues to confirm cases nationally across 34 states.
Lettuce Signal, No Final Answer
Michigan health officials said early information from more than 1,000 interviews with patients showed lettuce as a common product that "regularly comes up during the investigation," and they advised people to buy whole heads of lettuce, discard outer layers, and thoroughly wash what is left.
In a statement, Taco Bell said it had "voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure," while federal health officials continued tracing multiple produce items.
During a call with reporters, Donald Prater said, "We are aware of the signal for lettuce ... that's being noted by our Michigan partners," and he said the FDA was continuing its trace-back investigation on multiple produce items including lettuce.
The AP reported that federal health officials did not directly respond to whether they are looking at Taco Bell or any specific food vendor or distributor, even as Michigan officials blamed lettuce or salad greens as a possible culprit.
The CDC said the outbreak is not yet tied to a single identified source, and it warned the true number of infections is likely higher because some people with mild illness recover without seeking medical care and are never tested.
Hospitals, Reporting Lag
The CDC reported 1,645 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases since May 1 across 34 states, with 141 hospitalizations and no deaths, while it said it is aware of more than 5,100 additional cases requiring further analysis.
“Lettuce and salad greens have become the prime suspects in an explosive outbreak of the diarrheal parasite Cyclospora, which is surging nationwide but erupting to extraordinary heights in Michigan”
In Michigan, cases surpassed 3,000, with the state reporting 3,309 cases since June 22 and at least 44 people hospitalized, and it said most cases were reported in southeastern Michigan including Wayne County.
Health officials said the parasite’s timeline complicates tracing because symptoms may not appear for as long as two weeks, and by the time patients are tested and interviewed, they may be asked to remember what they ate and where their food came from.
The CDC also said it expects a six-week reporting lag between illness onset and case reporting as it receives and reviews data, and it warned that some people recover without testing or medical care.
As the investigation continues, clinicians were advised to consider cyclosporiasis when patients have prolonged or relapsing watery diarrhea, and the CDC said lab testing on patient stool samples should be requested because routine ova and parasite exams might miss detection.
