WASHINGTON — U.S. health officials are investigating a new outbreak of the foodborne parasite Cyclospora even as confirmed cyclosporiasis cases have continued to rise nationwide, underscoring the challenges facing authorities after earlier measures were announced to contain a larger multistate outbreak.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday it had opened an investigation into a newly identified cluster involving 72 illnesses linked to an as-yet unidentified food source. The announcement came as federal authorities reported thousands of infections associated with a broader outbreak that has prompted recalls of iceberg lettuce and intensified food safety investigations.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4,100 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported since May 1, while more than 7,400 additional reports remain under investigation. The CDC said the confirmed cases have resulted in more than 300 hospitalizations, with no deaths reported.
The FDA has continued to advise consumers not to eat recalled iceberg lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms de Mexico, despite acknowledging that an earlier laboratory finding suggesting contamination in one lettuce sample was later determined to be a false positive. The agency said its traceback investigation and epidemiological evidence continue to link shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by the company to illnesses reported in five states.
Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and said it has halted distribution of the affected products while cooperating with the FDA, CDC and state health authorities. The recalled products were distributed to food-service customers and retailers in more than two dozen U.S. states between late June and mid-July.
The FDA said there are currently no confirmed positive laboratory results from product testing for Cyclospora, but emphasized that epidemiological investigations can establish links between illnesses and food products even when laboratory confirmation is unavailable. The agency said product sampling and traceback efforts remain ongoing.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes intestinal illness, typically producing prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and fatigue. U.S. health authorities say infections often increase during the spring and summer and have historically been associated with fresh produce.
Federal regulators said both the investigation into the recalled lettuce and the newly identified outbreak remain active, and urged consumers, restaurants and retailers to discard recalled products and seek medical advice if symptoms develop after consuming potentially contaminated food.
