Health Officials Give Important Update On Parasite Outbreak In MA

Health officials have announced an end to the record-setting cyclospora parasite outbreak that sickened thousands across the country.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials said Friday that they are confident that all recalled iceberg lettuce related to this specific outbreak is off the market.

• El Niño 'Supersized Before Our Eyes': What This Means For Winter In MA

Subscribe

Exact figures for Massachusetts are not yet clear, though the CDC estimates somewhere between 50 and 199 confirmed cases. The actual totals are likely much higher as many cases go unreported, and official counts lag behind laboratory-confirmed results.

Since May 1, the government has received reports of nearly 20,000 lab-confirmed cases, or more than 16 times the number reported during the same period last year. More than 6,100 suspected cases have also been reported.

Even with the outbreak deemed over, several questions remain, including those about its origin. The parasite is spread through human feces, and it still isn't clear how sewage could have contaminated enough food to sicken so many people.

Related:

• Is Lettuce Safe To Eat Again? Latest On Cyclospora Outbreak In MA
• How To Wash Lettuce, Berries And Herbs To Reduce Cyclospora Risk
• How New Barcodes Could Help Limit The Next Cyclospora Outbreak