Bengaluru: Michigan health officials reported 6,148 cases linked to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis on Monday, an increase of 1,146 cases since their last update on Friday.
The outbreak in Michigan has resulted in 102 hospitalizations, according to the latest update from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. No deaths have been reported in the Michigan outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection that can be contracted by consuming food – typically raw fruits and vegetables – or water contaminated with feces, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cases of an intestinal infection from the cyclospora parasite that causes diarrhea, nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms have risen steadily in recent months across the United States, according to the CDC.
The CDC said on its website dated July 13 that 1,645 laboratory-confirmed cases of domestically acquired cyclosporiasis had been reported across 34 states, and 141 of those patients had been hospitalized. At that time, the agency said more than 5,100 additional cases required further analysis and confirmation.
The CDC had linked the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
The FDA’s traceback investigation identified convergence on a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill, the agency said on Thursday.
On Saturday, the FDA said a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms tested positive for cyclospora. However, the agency said on Sunday that laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and concluded the finding was a false positive, leaving no confirmed positive product samples for the parasite.
