Cyclosporiasis outbreak not 'fully under control,' former FDA chief says
Federal investigators say the outbreak has reached 4,173 confirmed cases and remains under review after a false-positive product test.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced July 24 that more than 11,500 confirmed or suspected cyclosporiasis cases have spread across nine states—Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia—causing weeks of severe 'explosive' diarrhea.
- The outbreak began May 1, marking cyclosporiasis season's start with case counts surging compared to about 250 last year, as federal investigators traced the illness to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico.
- Michigan leads the nation with more than 9,200 cases and 160 hospitalizations as of July 27, while Ohio reported over 2,500 cases with Lucas County recording 435, and Indiana reported more than 800 cases with Allen County seeing 144.
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed the outbreak was 'under control' last week, but Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb stated 'I don't think this is fully under control yet,' noting true cases likely run 10 to 20 times higher.
- Symptoms emerge within two days to two weeks after infection, including severe gastrointestinal distress, nausea, bloating and weight loss, with confirmation taking up to six weeks. The FDA emphasized a false-positive test does not change its recall stance as traceback data converge on Taylor Farms lettuce.
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Retailers shun central Mexico produce as US cyclospora outbreak spreads, former FDA chief says
Some large retailers and restaurants have stopped sourcing produce from a region of central Mexico linked to the expanding U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak because of concerns about widespread contamination, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said on Monday.
Cyclospora Boosts Fears That Deadlier Foodborne Outbreaks Are Ahead
By Kate Wells and Stephanie Armour Jul 28, 2026 (iStock/Getty Images) The next foodborne illness outbreak could be much worse. That’s the concern of food safety leaders across the U.S. who are raising alarms over federal cuts they say have made it harder to detect and stop the spread of foodborne illnesses, such as the…
Editorial: Cyclospora outbreak requires vigilance
The parasite cyclospora continues to sicken people around the country, and cases in Louisiana are growing. Though our state is not at the center of the outbreak, which began in the Midwest and has affected that area most severely, the…
Company at center of US cyclospora outbreak complained to White House, source says
Taylor Farms complained to White House and FDA officials about government inspections. The company suspended operations in central Mexico after lettuce was linked to an outbreak. Health authorities confirmed thousands of cases of the parasitic disease cyclosporiasis. Former FDA chief suggested other produce from central Mexico could be involved. The true scope of the outbreak is likely much larger than reported.
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