Cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce spreads to 15 states.
The CDC has logged 10,468 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases and 12,255 more under investigation, making this the largest outbreak of the intestinal parasite in US history.
- 47 states have confirmed cases; only Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana have reported none.
- 517-plus people have been hospitalized nationwide with the parasite this summer.
- 2 deaths in Michigan were confirmed; both patients had significant underlying health conditions.
- Texas has confirmed 198 cases, with 37 hospitalizations and no deaths as of Aug. 5.
Why it matters: The outbreak is tied to contaminated iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, sourced from central Mexico and distributed to Taco Bell locations and retail stores across 27 states. An initial test on a Taylor Farms sample came back as a false positive, but the FDA says the company remains linked to the outbreak.
- 1,947 cases have been directly linked to Taylor Farms lettuce served at Taco Bell in nine states.
- Cyclospora can take one to two weeks to produce symptoms, making source tracing difficult.
How 18 sources split on this story
Where they split: Whether the outbreak is still spreading or winding down is contested — case counts are rising, but some public health experts say the increase reflects delayed reporting of past exposures.
Center coverage, 8 sources: The center frames the story around public health guidance — where cases are concentrated, how to avoid infection, and early signals that the outbreak may be slowing.
USA Today3hCyclospora outbreak tied to lettuce expands to 15 states as cases rise
Reuters5hMexico investigating tourist hub for cyclospora after UK alert
Associated Press5h15 states now linked to iceberg lettuce cyclospora outbreak, CDC saysCNCTV News6hQuebec has 223 cyclosporiasis cases so far in 2026; none linked to U.S. lettuce outbreak
Forbes10hCyclosporiasis Outbreak Has Widened To 15 States, Report Says—What To Know
The Hill10hOver 20K cyclosporiasis cases suspected in US as outbreak reportedly linked to 6 more statesTNDThe National Desk6hCyclospora cases surge past 10,000 nationwide; Florida reports at least 168
ABC News1hCyclosporiasis outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce expands to 15 statesBosBoston.com3hCyclospora cases climb to 147 in Mass., but officials say season remains within historical range
CBS News2hCyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce now linked to 15 states, CDC says
CNN4hLarge cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce now includes cases in 15 statesTBGThe Boston Globe4h15 states linked to cyclospora outbreak
The Independent5h15 states now linked to iceberg lettuce cyclospora outbreak, CDC saysRight coverage, 4 sources: The right emphasizes the historic scale of the outbreak, the CDC's expanding case count, and unresolved questions about the FDA's handling of the Taylor Farms false-positive test result.
Washington Examiner8hCDC reports over 20,000 suspected cyclosporiasis cases in largest outbreak in US history
Just the News9hSix more states added to cyclosporiasis parasite outbreak that's been linked to lettuce: report
Newsmax6hCyclosporiasis Cases Might've Topped 20,000
The Washington Times5h15 states now linked to iceberg lettuce cyclospora outbreak, CDC saysWhat’s next: The CDC is expected to formally expand the outbreak to 15 states, adding Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.
- Dr. Stephen Ostroff, a former acting FDA commissioner, said new state additions reflect delayed diagnoses, not new spread.
- Katelyn Jetelina, adjunct assistant professor of epidemiology at Yale, said the share of positive tests is declining — a sign the outbreak may be past its peak.
- Whether all cases across 47 states trace back to a single contaminated source or multiple simultaneous outbreaks remains unresolved.
- No produce sample has tested definitively positive for Cyclospora, leaving the full chain of contamination unconfirmed.