Three people familiar with an ongoing probe say the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expanding the scope of the current cyclosporiasis outbreak by adding six more states, bringing the number of impacted states to 15.
An investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has linked the outbreak, which earlier had expanded to nine states, to iceberg lettuce served at a major restaurant chain and traced that lettuce to privately held Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico. Authorities, however, have signaled that the probe remains active and that other potential sources are still being sought.
Among the states newly included in the CDC’s tally is Missouri, which is reporting 1,095 cases, according to a state health department spokesperson. State and local investigators who spoke with patients said those individuals reported consuming food from the restaurant chain before falling ill, according to sources close to the investigation. Information about the five other states being added was not immediately available; the people who provided details to investigators spoke on the condition of anonymity because the inquiry remains ongoing.
Health data indicate that cyclosporiasis cases in the United States have surged to record levels this year, placing the current outbreak among the largest foodborne illness events in recent U.S. history. The illness commonly produces gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea and nausea, which have been reported by affected patients.
Michigan continues to be the hardest-hit state, reporting 11,508 cases as of Tuesday, an increase of more than 200 cases from the prior day’s update. The state also reported the first two deaths associated with the outbreak, noting that both individuals had significant underlying health conditions.
The CDC, which typically trails state reporting by several weeks due to surveillance and laboratory confirmation processes, recorded 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases nationwide as of July 28. In addition to those confirmed infections, agencies have identified more than 11,500 suspected cases that have not yet been confirmed through laboratory testing.
Investigators continue to collect exposure histories and laboratory data as they work to map the outbreak’s geographic footprint and potential contamination pathways. Public health officials have emphasized that the investigation remains active and that further updates are expected as more laboratory results and epidemiological links are established.
Given the evolving nature of the inquiry and gaps between state and federal reporting, health authorities and supply-chain stakeholders are monitoring developments closely while continuing containment and communication efforts.