The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday reported 15,716 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in the United States, an increase of 1,821 cases from a week ago.
The CDC said it has received reports of 15,716 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis across 47 states, with 828 hospitalizations and two deaths as of August 17. At least 11,841 additional cases of cyclosporiasis may require further investigation and analysis, CDC said.
The data include the cases reported in the ongoing multistate outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce, CDC said, adding that it is investigating multiple clusters of cyclosporiasis.
CDC and FDA are investigating at least six other clusters for which sources have not yet been confirmed, CDC said.
Michigan, the hardest-hit state in the 17-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis, reported 13,909 cases linked to the parasitic disease last week, up roughly 11% from the week before, but state officials said the rise largely reflected a processing backlog and the worst may be over.
The cyclosporiasis outbreak is one of the largest foodborne illness events in recent U.S. history. The illness is caused by the cyclospora parasite, which can lead to diarrhea, nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
The outbreak has shaken U.S. consumers nationwide, causing many to forgo eating fresh produce or dining in restaurants.
