A widespread cyclosporiasis outbreak that has grown into the largest on record in the United States has caused its first known deaths, health officials said on Monday (August 3), as medical experts warned that recent regulatory rollbacks contributed to the infection's historic scale.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported two deaths connected to the intestinal parasite. While cyclosporiasis is generally not life-threatening, state officials noted the deceased individuals had significant underlying health conditions that were exacerbated by severe dehydration.
"When you have that many people with infectious diarrhea, there's going to be a cohort of those people who have underlying medical conditions who are going to succumb to basically the dehydration—taxing their system and making it really difficult for them to survive," said Dr. Rabia de LaTour, a gastroenterologist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "It can cause end-organ damage, and as a result, they can become very, very, very ill and even pass away."
De LaTour also said a regulation change from 2025 made what used to be mandatory tracking of cyclosporiasis a voluntary measure for states.
An investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked the outbreak—now spanning at least nine states—to iceberg lettuce sourced from privately held Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico and served at Yum Brands-owned Taco Bell restaurants. Although the lettuce has been recalled, health authorities are searching for additional potential sources.
Dr. de LaTour estimated total cases have climbed to approximately 22,000 nationwide and are likely still growing, far surpassing typical annual levels.
"In a given year, when you see outbreaks, which do happen basically every year, it's maybe 60, a few hundred, at the worst, maybe 3,000, but nothing like this," de LaTour said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whose surveillance lags state reporting by several weeks, recorded 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases nationwide as of July 28, along with more than 11,500 suspected cases. State counts run substantially higher because the CDC excludes probable cases.
Posted by: Alma Angeles/NET25 News
