Nationwide diarrhea outbreak investigation focuses on lettuce as officials race to identify source

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Health officials are warning consumers about lettuce and other salad greens as they race to identify the source of a multistate diarrhea outbreak caused by the parasite Cyclospora.

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“It’s really a race against time to identify what’s causing the outbreak so that it can be pulled from the shelves,” said Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an infectious disease epidemiologist.

Michigan’s chief medical executive said early findings have identified lettuce as a common food reported by patients during the investigation.

Officials cautioned that no specific type of lettuce, grower or supplier has been identified, and other foods have not been ruled out.

“There are thousands of people who need to be interviewed and to look back in their history and see what they have eaten that could be responsible,” Rivers said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 34 states have reported cases of Cyclospora.

More than 1,600 cases have been confirmed since May 1, when infections typically begin to increase seasonally, while another 5,100 cases remain under further analysis.

Health officials say the parasite can be difficult to trace because symptoms may not appear for up to two weeks after exposure, making it harder for patients to remember what they ate.

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They say at least 44 people have been hospitalized in Michigan and at least 46 in Ohio.

“The longer that contaminated products are being sold, being served in restaurants, available to consumers, the more people who will become infected,” Rivers said.

Health officials also said Cyclospora does not usually spread from person to person.

Federal and state officials are also investigating a potential link between the recent cyclosporiasis outbreaks and Taco Bell, according to The Washington Post.

The newspaper reported that two sources familiar with the investigation said authorities are trying to determine whether the fast-food chain is connected to the parasitic foodborne illness, which has infected thousands of people and can cause explosive diarrhea.

Some Taco Bell restaurants have stopped serving certain ingredients since the outbreaks were reported.

Most of the reported cases have been in Michigan, though illnesses have also been identified in New York, Ohio, Colorado and Texas. Officials say the source of the outbreak has not been confirmed.

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