The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is officially declaring an end to the outbreak of a microscopic parasite that sickened thousands and was linked to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.
The Washington Post first reported Thursday that federal officials were poised to declare the end of the nation’s largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak. On Friday, the CDC said the outbreak was over, citing a significant decline in the number of infections and the removal of Taylor Farms’ contaminated lettuce from stores and restaurants.
Nearly 13,000 people fell ill, and 570 hospitalizations were linked to the outbreak across 21 states, according to new CDC data released Friday.
The Food and Drug Administration is continuing to investigate how the lettuce became contaminated. Agency officials have completed inspections and sample collection at Taylor Farms’ operations in Mexico, including the processing facility and the fields where the lettuce was grown. The samples are “pending analysis,” the agency said Friday.
Cyclospora is generally transmitted when infected feces contaminate food or water, and it typically takes about a week before a person gets sick after they’re infected. It causes watery diarrhea with frequent bowel movements and is one of the hardest foodborne pathogens to trace.
Cyclospora season is coming to a close, as outbreaks typically occur between May 1 and Aug. 31. The foodborne pathogen was thrust into the spotlight this year due to the massive outbreak in lettuce, but there have been other smaller outbreaks this year where a culprit has not been identified.
In total and across all outbreaks, 19,595 cases have been reported this season across 49 states and D.C. as of Sept. 8. Two people in Michigan died; health authorities said they had “significant underlying health conditions” that may have been affected by the intestinal illness and dehydration.
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The post Large cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to lettuce is over, federal officials say appeared first on Washington Post.
