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FDA and CDC track multistate Cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled Mexican iceberg lettuce
Confirmed
What we know
The FDA and CDC, with state partners, are investigating a multistate Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico that was recalled July 17.
As of the agencies' Aug 20 update, the outbreak cluster included 10,930 reported illnesses from 17 states, at least 454 hospitalizations, and two deaths. FDA said it believes recalled lettuce tied to this cluster is off the market and that it is inspecting growers in Mexico with Mexican counterparts.
What's confirmed
- FDA's Aug 20 advisory stated 10,930 illnesses in 17 states linked to the Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce cluster, with 454 hospitalizations and 2 deaths.
- FDA stated the related recall occurred July 17 and that it remains confident recalled product for this outbreak is off the market.
- CDC and FDA said they continue interviewing additional sick people and that no new states were added in the latest update even as case counts rose.
What's still developing
- Broader CDC seasonal surveillance totals for cyclosporiasis are higher than this single multistate cluster; desks should not conflate all-season counts with the lettuce-linked outbreak total.
- CDC has pointed to additional Cyclospora clusters whose food vehicles are not yet publicly named.
- Public-health analysts continue to debate how staffing and funding changes affect outbreak response speed; HHS/CDC say core laboratory support for Cyclospora continues.