The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Tuesday that laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in the United States have surpassed 15,000. Federal health officials are currently investigating a multistate outbreak of the intestinal parasite, which has been linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.
The CDC confirmed a total of 15,716 cases across 47 states since May 1, marking an increase of 1,821 cases from the previous week. This total significantly exceeds the 1,180 cases reported during the same period in 2025. Additionally, the agency stated that 11,841 further cases still require investigation and analysis. As of August 17, the outbreak has resulted in 828 hospitalizations and two deaths.
Investigators initially identified the outbreak in July among customers who consumed shredded lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants. The parasite was eventually traced to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, a California-based company. Taylor Farms initiated a voluntary recall of the affected products on July 17. While the outbreak has expanded to include Maine and Massachusetts, acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Kyle Diamantas stated last week that the agency is confident all contaminated lettuce has been removed from the market.
A person infected with the parasite would notice symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, fatigue, and loss of appetite. These symptoms result from an intestinal illness caused by a parasite typically spread through food or water contaminated with feces. While the FDA has stated that current store inventory is safe to eat, officials warned that the number of reported cases may continue to rise in the short term. This is due to the standard time delay required for an individual to become ill, seek testing, and have those results processed through the national reporting system.
The incident has already led to legal action, including a lawsuit involving Taco Bell, and necessitated a large-scale voluntary recall by Taylor Farms on July 17. The ongoing investigation by the CDC and FDA serves as a precedent for tracing imported produce to specific suppliers and domestic distributors. Health officials have not provided a specific date for when the investigation will be officially closed, but continue to monitor reporting data as it arrives from state health departments.