CDC expands largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak to 15 states - report

Lead

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded the largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak to 15 states, adding six new states to the investigation, as reported by the Guardian and the Jerusalem Post, citing the Washington Post. The outbreak, which has sickened thousands, has been linked by U.S. officials to iceberg lettuce produced in Mexico, though Mexican health authorities dispute that finding.

Coverage Comparison

Reports on the scope of the outbreak vary. Al Jazeera reported that over 4,100 people have been infected with cyclosporiasis in the U.S., with 308 people hospitalized across 41 states and no deaths reported so far. The Guardian reported that as of 28 July, the CDC had recorded 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases and approximately 11,500 suspected cases awaiting confirmation, with cases reported in 45 states since May. The Jerusalem Post reported that U.S. cyclosporiasis cases have reached record levels this year and described the current outbreak as among the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in recent U.S. history.

The Guardian reported that the CDC expanded the outbreak to 15 states, adding Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. It noted that Michigan reported 11,234 outbreak-linked cases and two deaths, while the Jerusalem Post reported Michigan had 11,508 cases and two deaths. The discrepancy in case counts was not reconciled in the available articles.

Key Claims

• Over 4,100 people have been infected with cyclosporiasis in the U.S., according to Al Jazeera.
• The outbreak has expanded to 15 states, as reported by the Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.
• The CDC warned the public not to eat recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce, as reported by the Guardian.
• Taylor Farms issued a recall for iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico, as reported by Al Jazeera and the Guardian.
• Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include frequent diarrhea, and other symptoms include appetite loss, bloating, extreme fatigue, low-grade fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting, as described by Al Jazeera and the Guardian.
• Lettuce produce has been linked to many cases, according to Al Jazeera.
• The CDC linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants, a claim reported solely by the Jerusalem Post.
• Michigan reported 11,508 cases and two deaths, according to the Jerusalem Post.
• U.S. cyclosporiasis cases have reached record levels this year, and the outbreak is among the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in recent U.S. history, as stated in the Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

U.S. officials (CDC/FDA): U.S. officials claim that evidence points to lettuce grown in Mexico as the source of the outbreak. The CDC has expanded the outbreak to 15 states and warned consumers not to eat recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce. The FDA has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce produced by Taylor Farms de Mexico, and a sample of lettuce tested positive for the parasite before the result was later deemed a false positive, according to Al Jazeera.

Mexican Health Ministry: Mexico's Health Ministry, led by Secretary David Kershenobich, disputes U.S. findings, stating there is no evidence that the outbreak originated in the central state of Guanajuato, where authorities are investigating, as reported by Al Jazeera.