Nearly 100 New Cyclospora Cases Reported In FL In One Week, Data Shows

As federal officials continue to investigate a multistate diarrhea parasite outbreak linked to certain shredded iceberg lettuce, the number of cyclospora cases has jumped significantly in Florida over the past week.

Between May 1 and July 25, the most recent date that data is available on the spread of the intestinal infection, there have been 254 confirmed cases in Florida, according to the state’s health department.

Miami-Dade County has seen the highest number of cases during this time, with 40 reports of the illness, data shows.

Just one week earlier, as of July 18, there were 157 cyclospora cases reported in Florida since May 1.

That’s a nearly 62 percent increase in cases statewide over the past week, with a surge seen in Broward and Orange counties during this time.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that as of Tuesday there have been 6,707 lab-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in 45 states since May 1. During this outbreak, 423 people have been hospitalized with the illness.

More than 11,500 cases may also exist in the U.S. but have not been lab-confirmed, the agency said.

Michigan is reporting the highest number of outbreaks — 10,773 people and 193 hospitalizations — in the country, the state’s health officials said.

How the Outbreak Started

Earlier this month, federal officials announced that a five-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection, has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Fresh Foods and used in Taco Bell menu items.

The fast-food chain has since removed the affected lettuce from its local restaurants and national supply chain, and Taylor Farms has issued a nationwide recall of iceberg lettuce sourced from Mexico. Sysco, the nation’s largest food distributor, withdrew all Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from Mexico at ​the supplier's request.

On July 24, the Food and Drug Administration expanded the number of states with illnesses linked to the recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce to include Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. These states join the five other states — Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia — that have reported illnesses linked to the iceberg lettuce from central Mexico.

Though the FDA has said a lettuce sample provided by Taylor Farms recorded a "false positive” for cyclospora, the company’s recall remains in place.

Several versions of its bagged shredded iceberg product distributed between June 29 through July 16 in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin are on the recall list, according to the FDA.

Find the complete list of affected products, as well as lot codes and use-by dates, here.

What to Do If You Have Symptoms

Cyclosporiasis infections most often occur when people consume food or water contaminated with feces. The cyclospora parasite is commonly transmitted through contaminated produce.

While lettuce is at the center of the current investigation, no single brand or product has been blamed for all cases. Raspberries, basil, cilantro, snow peas and mesclun lettuce have been linked to previous cyclosporiasis outbreaks — notably one in 1997 that sickened 1,000 people in North America linked to Guatemalan raspberries and a 2019 outbreak linked to Mexican basil that sickened more than 2,400.

If you find yourself experiencing symptoms, the CDC recommends logging restaurant visits, as symptoms typically manifest about a week following exposure.

These may include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue and a loss of appetite. Some individuals might also experience a low-grade fever, vomiting, headaches, or body aches.

For a faster recovery and to prevent further complications, it is advisable to get a medical evaluation if symptoms persist. Contact a doctor if your symptoms worsen, continue for more than a few days, or if you run the risk of becoming dehydrated.

How to Handle Produce

To reduce the risk of getting sick from cyclospora, the CDC offers the following tips on handling produce:

• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking. It is important to thoroughly wash produce even if it is labeled as pre-washed.
• Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
• Raspberries require extra care. Rinsing may reduce cyclospora contamination, but it cannot guarantee removal because the berries’ uneven surface can trap the parasite. Place them in a colander and rinse gently under cool running water just before eating.
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
• Cooking can kill the parasite. Since washing alone cannot guarantee the parasite's removal, you can cook produce to a temperature of at least 158 °F (70°C)
• Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours).
• Leave off raw garnishes and toppings such as cilantro, parsley, salsa, slaw or other uncooked greens, which have been linked to past outbreaks.
• Avoid precut fruit, salad bars and self-serve toppings, where the source and handling may be harder to verify.