Overview
- Health agencies say the outbreak has spread to about 34 states and the CDC has recorded 1,645 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases since May 1, with several thousand additional illnesses under investigation.
- Investigators from the CDC, FDA and state health departments are conducting interviews, specialized testing and supply-chain tracebacks, but biological limits of Cyclospora and strained lab capacity have so far prevented a definitive source identification.
- Michigan and other Midwestern clusters have repeatedly pointed to lettuce or prepackaged salad greens as a likely vehicle in that regional outbreak, though no specific product, grower or supplier has been confirmed.
- Public-health guidance urges people to wash hands and produce, choose peelable or cooked fruits and vegetables when possible, and seek testing and a 10-day course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) if symptoms persist, noting washing may not remove the parasite and alcohol hand sanitizers are ineffective.
- Local impacts and responses vary widely: some counties report few cases and low community risk while others report large clusters, and some institutions such as school districts have temporarily removed fresh produce from menus as a precaution.