- Over 12,000 cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness causing severe gastrointestinal symptoms, have been reported across 40 states, far exceeding typical annual numbers.
- The largest known outbreak is linked to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, prompting a voluntary recall of Taylor Farms lettuce served at Taco Bell and a New Hampshire medical center.
- Initially affecting Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, the outbreak has expanded to include Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.
- Michigan alone accounts for 7,664 reported cases and 160 hospitalizations, contributing to 308 hospitalizations nationwide.
- While washing produce can help, cooking it at 158 degrees Fahrenheit is the only method proven to kill the cyclospora parasite.
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