Cyclosporiasis Map Shows States Affected As Cases Top 15,000

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Key points

• As of August 13, the number of illnesses linked to the lettuce was 9, 481, including at least 398 individuals who had to be hospitalized.
• According to The company's statement, there are "no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora as of August 13, 2026."
• More than 15, 000 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis have been documented throughout the United States this year, according to the latest figures from the U.S.
• In its latest update, the CDC remarked as of August 18, it has received reports of 15, 716 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the U.S.
• Taco Bell remarked in an official note on July 17 that it had completed removal of affected Taylor Farms lettuce from our restaurants.

More than 15, 000 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis have been documented throughout the United States this year, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Federal and state health authorities are investigating a number of clusters of cyclosporiasis-the gastrointestinal illness caused by the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora-to determine how numerous could be linked to a common contaminated source. The largest outbreak, affecting 17 states so far, has been traced to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms. This year is already the nation's worst year for documented cases of cyclosporiasis, with illnesses noted in 47 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the CDC noted. Last year, 1, 180 cases were documented in the U.S. Between May 1 and August 31. In its latest update, the CDC remarked as of August 18, it has received reports of 15, 716 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the U.S. Since May 1. At least 828 patients have been hospitalized, and two deaths have been documented. For context, the patients range in age from one to 99 years, and a majority (57 percent) were female, according to the CDC. The CDC remarked it is aware of at least 11, 841 further cases that have not been laboratory-confirmed or require further investigation to determine if they were acquired domestically. Newsweek has contacted Taylor Farms and Taco Bell for further comment via email and is awaiting responses. Largest Outbreak Linked to Lettuce The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remarked last week that 17 states were affected by the largest cyclospora outbreak. It office-holders have linked to iceberg lettuce. Maine and Massachusetts were continued to the list of states that already included: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The FDA has linked shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell to the outbreak, and remarked it is focused on produce giant Taylor Farms as the source of that lettuce. The firm in July recalled iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. As of August 13, the number of illnesses linked to the lettuce was 9, 481, including at least 398 individuals who had to be hospitalized. In its most recent update, the FDA remarked it is confident that all recalled lettuce related to the outbreak is now off the market. FDA "will continue to work with federal and state partners to investigate this multistate outbreak, " the agency remarked. Taylor Farms remarked in an official note posted on its website: "When questions were raised concerning the source of the recent Cyclospora outbreak, we immediately removed all potentially implicated product from the marketplace, and out of an abundance of caution we issued an even broader recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from the region. "We have also voluntarily suspended all iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from central Mexico." The company's statement remarked that there are "no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora as of August 13, 2026." Taco Bell stated in an official note on July 17 that it had "completed removal of affected Taylor Farms lettuce from our restaurants. "Based on ongoing conversations with public health authorities, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell worked swiftly to voluntarily remove the product from restaurants and the affected ingredient has been removed from our supply chain nationwide. We took this action to ensure our guests can enjoy their Taco Bell favorites safely, " it remarked. What Is Cyclospora? Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by "frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements, " according to the CDC. How Plenty of Cases Aren't Noted? The CDC remarked the official count represented only laboratory-confirmed cases, adding that state data may include probable and confirmed cases. It could lead to higher case counts than what the CDC reports. In practice, the agency remarked it was aware of more than 12, 000 further cases that either had not been laboratory-confirmed or required further analysis, including to rule out whether the patients had traveled overseas before becoming ill. The agency additionally stated the true number of illnesses is probable even higher as some individuals recover without seeking medical care and are never tested, leaving numerous infections outside official tallies. Cyclosporiasis Diagnosis and Treatment Symptoms generally develop regarding a week after exposure. They can appear between two days and two weeks or longer afterward. Without treatment, the illness may persist for more than a month, and symptoms can disappear before returning, according to the CDC. Cyclosporiasis is diagnosed through stool testing, but detecting the parasite may require a number of samples and specialized tests that are not routinely performed. The standard treatment is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic combination commonly sold as Bactrim or Septra. Rest and fluids are additionally notable, particularly for patients experiencing diarrhea. Individuals with weakened immune systems or poor health may be more probable to develop severe or prolonged illness. MUSC Health infectious diseases specialist Scott Curry, M.D., remarked cyclosporiasis can be challenging to diagnose since "regular stool cultures, the normal way to test people with bad diarrhea, don't catch cyclosporiasis." Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and James Debens.

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Federal and state health authorities are investigating a number of clusters of cyclosporiasis-the gastrointestinal illness caused by the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora-to determine how numerous could be linked to a common contaminated source. The largest outbreak, affecting 17 states so far, has been traced to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms.

This year is already the nation's worst year for documented cases of cyclosporiasis, with illnesses noted in 47 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the CDC noted. Last year, 1, 180 cases were documented in the U.S. Between May 1 and August 31.

In its latest update, the CDC remarked as of August 18, it has received reports of 15, 716 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the U.S. Since May 1. At least 828 patients have been hospitalized, and two deaths have been documented. The patients range in age from one to 99 years, and a majority (57 percent) were female, according to the CDC.

Notably, the CDC remarked it is aware of at least 11, 841 further cases that have not been laboratory-confirmed or require further investigation to determine if they were acquired domestically.

Newsweek has contacted Taylor Farms and Taco Bell for further comment via email and is awaiting responses.

Notably, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remarked last week that 17 states were affected by the largest cyclospora outbreak. It office-holders have linked to iceberg lettuce.

Maine and Massachusetts were continued to the list of states that already included: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Notably, the FDA has linked shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell to the outbreak, and remarked it is focused on produce giant Taylor Farms as the source of that lettuce. The firm in July recalled iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.

In its most recent update, the FDA remarked it is confident that all recalled lettuce related to the outbreak is now off the market.

FDA "will continue to work with federal and state partners to investigate this multistate outbreak, " the agency remarked.

Taylor Farms remarked in an official note posted on its website: When questions were raised concerning the source of the recent Cyclospora outbreak, we immediately removed all potentially implicated product from the marketplace, and out of an abundance of caution we issued an even broader recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from the region.

"We have also voluntarily suspended all iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from central Mexico."

"Based on ongoing conversations with public health authorities, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell worked swiftly to voluntarily remove the product from restaurants and the affected ingredient has been removed from our supply chain nationwide. We took this action to ensure our guests can enjoy their Taco Bell favorites safely, " it remarked.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.

When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by "frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements, " according to the CDC.

Notably, the CDC remarked the official count represented only laboratory-confirmed cases, adding that state data may include probable and confirmed cases. It could lead to higher case counts than what the CDC reports.

In practice, the agency remarked it was aware of more than 12, 000 further cases that either had not been laboratory-confirmed or required further analysis, including to rule out whether the patients had traveled overseas before becoming ill.

Notably, the agency additionally stated the true number of illnesses is probable even higher as some individuals recover without seeking medical care and are never tested, leaving numerous infections outside official tallies.

Symptoms generally develop regarding a week after exposure. They can appear between two days and two weeks or longer afterward.

Without treatment, the illness may persist for more than a month, and symptoms can disappear before returning, according to the CDC.

Cyclosporiasis is diagnosed through stool testing, but detecting the parasite may require a number of samples and specialized tests that are not routinely performed.

For context, the standard treatment is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic combination commonly sold as Bactrim or Septra. Rest and fluids are additionally notable, particularly for patients experiencing diarrhea. Individuals with weakened immune systems or poor health may be more probable to develop severe or prolonged illness.

MUSC Health infectious diseases specialist Scott Curry, M.D., remarked cyclosporiasis can be challenging to diagnose since "regular stool cultures, the normal way to test people with bad diarrhea, don't catch cyclosporiasis." Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and James Debens.

For now, cyclosporiasis Map Shows States Affected As Cases Top 15, 000 remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.