FDA Investigates Second, Smaller Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Amid Nationwide Surge
Federal health officials are investigating a fresh cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened at least 72 people, adding to a growing wave of infections from the foodborne parasite across the United States. The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it has not yet identified the source and has launched a traceback investigation to track down the contaminated food.
The newly reported outbreak is distinct from a much larger multistate outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, which has already sickened more than 1,640 people. Overall cyclosporiasis cases have surpassed 4,100 nationwide since May 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with cases reported in 41 states — all but Hawaii, Louisiana, New Hampshire and North Dakota as of last week.
The FDA reported the smaller outbreak on July 22, noting that the 72 confirmed cases have not been tied to a specific product or geographic region. The agency has initiated traceback efforts on the cases in an attempt to pinpoint the source. The actual number of people sickened may exceed 10,000, the CDC said, as more than 7,400 additional cases are still under investigation. During the May 1-July 20 period, 308 hospitalizations and no deaths have been reported.
While a seasonal rise in cyclospora infections from May to August is typical, this year’s surge has been particularly pronounced. Past outbreaks have been linked to leafy greens, cabbage, basil, cilantro, parsley, broccoli, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and raspberries, the FDA said. Mexico’s health minister, David Kershenobich, denied responsibility for the recent U.S. outbreak on July 21. That same day, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said at a news briefing that the outbreak was “under control.”
The broader context of foodborne illness in the U.S. remains concerning. Consumer Reports, the nonprofit known for testing and monitoring consumer products, released its annual risky food report in April, naming the 10 foods of 2024 most subject to recalls or associated with major outbreaks. Deli meat, for instance, has been linked to listeria outbreaks, including the Boar's Head listeria outbreak that killed 10 people in 2024. Produce like cucumbers have been recalled due to salmonella contamination that infected 113 people across 23 states. Soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, such as cotija and queso fresco, carry increased risk; one producer, Rizo-Lopez Foods, shut down in October 2024 after a years-long listeria outbreak linked to its products killed two people. Eggs and onions are susceptible to fecal contamination via wastewater or fertilizer, while leafy greens are easily tainted with E. coli, as seen in the Solata Foods spinach recall. Organic carrots were linked to a major E. coli outbreak in late 2024, leaving at least 39 ill and one dead. Ready-to-eat poultry and meat have also sparked multiple recalls; in 2024, millions of pounds of BrucePac products were recalled for listeria contamination.
Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY.