Michigan has recorded more than 10,700 cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection known for causing severe diarrhea, state health officials announced Friday. Nearly 200 individuals have been hospitalized in connection with the outbreak, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Services.
Officials believe the outbreak may have peaked in Michigan, as hospital visits attributed to diarrhea symptoms appear to be decreasing, MLive.com reported, citing Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports approximately 18,000 cases of cyclosporiasis, with 6,707 laboratory-confirmed and 11,500 suspected cases. Michigan has reported the highest number of cases among U.S. states, according to CDC data, which acknowledges that state-recorded numbers may be higher due to differing reporting protocols.
Cyclospora is a parasite, making it more challenging to detect in laboratory settings compared to bacteria. The current outbreak is suspected to be linked to contaminated lettuce.
National fresh produce supplier Taylor Farms was initially identified as a potential source of contaminated lettuce supplied to various fast-food chains, including Taco Bell. The company issued a recall for leafy greens distributed in at least 27 states on July 17. However, subsequent tests by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) produced false positive results. Despite these findings, the FDA maintains that Taylor Farms' produce supplier in Mexico is still considered a focus of the ongoing investigation. "The recent false positive results do not change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation," an FDA spokesperson stated on July 20.