Cyclospora Outbreak Expands to 15 States, Linked to Mexican Lettuce
The largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S. has expanded to at least 15 states as of August 4, 2026, with over 10,000 confirmed cases linked to contaminated lettuce from Mexico. Two deaths have been confirmed in Michigan, marking the first fatalities from this parasite-caused foodborne illness.
Outbreak Magnitude and Spread
The outbreak has affected 10,468 people with laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cyclosporiasis since May 1, 2026. Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Carolina have joined the outbreak tied to lettuce from Mexico. This is substantially higher than the 249 cases reported nationally by the same time last year.
Source Identification
Shredded iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell and supplied by Taylor Farms has been identified as one possible culprit, and Taco Bell has since removed all the implicated lettuce from its supply chain, with Taylor Farms issuing a recall. Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from central Mexico is the only recall issued due to cyclospora concerns, with 33 out of 35 affected products sent to food service locations.
First Deaths Reported
Two people in Michigan have died in connection with the multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak, marking the first known deaths linked to the foodborne illness. Of the 1,645 case-patients with available information, 141 (9%) were hospitalized.
What Is Cyclosporiasis
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite carried in human feces. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis typically begin about 1 week after exposure, with onset occurring 2-14 days after being exposed. The most common symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, nausea, and fatigue, with less common symptoms including low-grade fever and vomiting.