Courtesy: Taco Bell (X)
Health officials have identified the likely source behind a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened more than 1,600 people since May. The CDC confirmed at least 1,644 cases as of July 16, spread across 37 states. An FDA traceback investigation pointed to a single iceberg lettuce supplier tied to Taco Bell locations in five states as the probable source.
The CDC is advising people to avoid lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Officials also confirmed they are investigating other cyclosporiasis cases nationwide that are unrelated to this specific outbreak. Taco Bell responded with a statement announcing a voluntary removal of all lettuce from affected locations. The company added that it would replace the ingredient within 24 hours in select states.
How the Taco Bell outbreak is playing out in court
The outbreak has already generated multiple lawsuits against Taco Bell. David Ott, a 27-year military veteran represented by the law firm Ron Simon and Associates, claims he ate at an Ohio Taco Bell location on June 18 and June 20. He says he developed abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea days later. His symptoms worsened enough that doctors admitted him to the hospital, where he underwent a colonoscopy, a CT scan and extensive blood and stool testing. Doctors ultimately diagnosed him with cyclosporiasis.
Another Ohio resident, Mohammed Ayyad, says he ate at Taco Bell three times in June, twice on June 14 and once on June 21. He developed a headache, chills and persistent diarrhea afterward. He visited urgent care on July 6, where a stool sample tested positive for cyclospora. Doctors prescribed antibiotics as treatment.
A Michigan couple also filed suit. They claim they ate shredded lettuce at a Taco Bell location on June 30 that they say was contaminated with fecal matter containing the parasite. Both say they were diagnosed with cyclospora infections and required medical care.
Why Georgia’s cyclosporiasis cases remain harder to trace
Georgia has reported between 11 and 30 cyclosporiasis cases as of July 13. That number is up from fewer than 10 cases at the start of July. It remains unclear whether Georgia’s cases connect to the Taco Bell outbreak, originate from another state, or trace back to travel outside the country. Nationally, at least 440 cases have been linked to Americans who traveled abroad before getting sick.
A federal parasite tracking program removed cyclospora from its monitoring list last year, complicating efforts to pinpoint outbreak sources quickly. Georgia’s case numbers have also risen steadily since 2015. Officials attribute much of that increase to improved testing methods rather than a genuine surge in infections. Summer months, particularly June and July, typically bring higher case counts across the state.
What cyclosporiasis actually does to the body
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite often found in food or water. It is more common in tropical and subtropical regions. The parasite infects the small intestine and can cause watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements. Symptoms can last from a few days to more than a month and may seem to improve before returning.
People typically become sick between two days and two weeks after infection. The parasite spreads through contaminated food or water rather than person-to-person contact, since it only becomes infectious after passing through the body. Most healthy people recover without medical treatment, though those who are immunocompromised may need more serious care if symptoms persist.
SOURCE: USA TODAY
About the Author
