Michigan cyclosporiasis cases climb to 14,718 as state health officials track expanding outbreak

Michigan health officials on Thursday reported 14,718 cases linked to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an increase of 208 cases over the previous week. The latest state update, issued Sept. 3, also recorded 366 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.

Michigan has been the hardest-hit state in a multi-state cluster that has grown to at least 20 states, and last month reported two deaths tied to the infection. State health officials said both patients had significant underlying health conditions.

The number of cyclosporiasis infections has risen steadily across the country in recent months, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Tuesday, the CDC said it had received reports of 18,445 laboratory-confirmed cases acquired in the United States. The intestinal illness, caused by the cyclospora parasite, can trigger diarrhea, nausea, cramping and other gastrointestinal symptoms, and can be particularly dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems.

The outbreak has already emerged as one of the largest foodborne illness events in recent U.S. history, and its scale has raised fresh concerns about produce safety and consumer confidence in raw fruits and vegetables. Ingredient sourcing and distribution chains have come under added scrutiny as health authorities work to contain the spread.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has linked the multistate outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and supplied by Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico. Taylor Farms recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17 and temporarily suspended activity at its processing facility. That connection has become more complicated, however, after a test result used in the initial link was later ruled a false positive. Investigators say they are continuing to look for other possible sources.

Cyclosporiasis is typically contracted by consuming food, especially raw produce, or water contaminated with fecal matter. The parasite that causes the infection often takes several days to produce symptoms, which can delay recognition of the illness and make source tracing more difficult. Health officials expect the case count to keep shifting as more reports are confirmed and processed.