The U.S. has declared an end to the largest Cyclospora outbreak ever recorded, with 12,883 cases across 21 states and 2 deaths. Officials linked the source to iceberg lettuce from Mexico.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday, 11 Sep 2020 GMT+7, that the largest Cyclospora outbreak on record has ended after a steady decline in cases. At the peak, over 1,000 new infections were reported in a single day, but by August, daily new cases had dropped to an average of fewer than 2.
This outbreak was linked to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico supplied by Taylor Farms, prompting the company to recall all iceberg lettuce products from that region starting 17 July.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated it is confident that all recalled lettuce connected to the outbreak has been removed from the market. Since the products' use-by dates have passed, they are unlikely to be sold in stores or served in restaurants anymore.
However, the FDA continues to investigate how the Cyclospora parasite entered the food supply chain. Officials have inspected lettuce farms and processing plants in Mexico, collecting samples for analysis, and are working with agencies in the U.S., Mexico, and state governments.
Taylor Farms said its facility in central Mexico remains closed during the FDA investigation, which the company and independent experts continue to support.
CDC data shows that since 1 May, the U.S. has confirmed 19,595 laboratory-verified Cyclospora cases, with over half linked to this major outbreak. Among these, 570 patients were hospitalized and 2 died.
Michigan was among the hardest-hit states, with over 14,000 cases and 2 deaths linked to the parasite. Ohio and Missouri also reported several thousand infections associated with Taylor Farms lettuce.
Officials noted that the unusually high case numbers in Michigan partly reflect backlog reports processed in August, highlighting issues in disease surveillance systems affected by federal budget cuts during President Donald Trump's administration.
The outbreak has also impacted consumer confidence, with some avoiding fresh fruits and vegetables and reducing dining out, affecting customer numbers at restaurants and major chains across the U.S.
Donald Schaffner, a food science professor at Rutgers University, warned that the U.S. still lacks the necessary tools and technology to prevent similar outbreaks in the future. He called for improved pathogen strain tracking systems and ongoing research support on parasites.
Previously, the largest Cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. before 2023 occurred in 2019, with about 4,700 cases nationwide. The 2023 outbreak set a new record by a significant margin.
Source:Reuters
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