Two Dead in Michigan as Cyclospora Cases Top 11,000
Two people in Michigan have died in connection with the ongoing multistate cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated lettuce, marking the first confirmed U.S. deaths tied to the parasite in this year's outbreak.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the deaths Monday, saying both individuals had "significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration," according to medical records. The department did not release the identities of either person and said no additional information would be provided about the cases.
"Cyclosporiasis is generally not a life-threatening illness," the department said in its release. "Death resulting from cyclosporiasis is uncommon in the United States."
Michigan Remains the Hardest-Hit State
Michigan has reported 11,234 cases and 193 hospitalizations tied to the outbreak, making it the state with the largest confirmed case count in the country, ahead of even the CDC's national tally. The CDC has confirmed more than 6,700 laboratory-confirmed cases nationwide since May 1, though that figure lags behind state-level reporting, which suggests the true nationwide total exceeds 20,000 cases across at least 45 states, according to the CDC.
Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explained that cyclospora can lead to dangerous dehydration through severe diarrhea and vomiting. The illness is often treated with the antibiotic Bactrim, though Schaffner noted that many people with healthy immune systems recover on their own without treatment.
Tracing the Outbreak Back to Lettuce
The outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and sourced from central Mexico, distributed through restaurants including Taco Bell across at least 10 states. Taylor Farms de Mexico issued a voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from the region last month.
This year's outbreak is considered the most severe in recent U.S. history. Previously, 2019 held the record for the most cyclosporiasis cases reported in a single year, with about 4,700 confirmed cases nationwide, a number this year's outbreak has already surpassed several times over.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that spreads through feces and commonly infects fresh produce through contaminated irrigation water. The illness, cyclosporiasis, typically causes watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements, along with other gastrointestinal symptoms, and tends to peak during late spring and summer months.
Public health officials continue to investigate the outbreak, and Michigan's health department said it will update case totals on a daily basis, Monday through Friday.
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