Michigan cases approach 1,000 since late June
Some Taco Bell locations have posted signage that they have stopped serving several fresh ingredients as the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to sicken hundreds across the country.
The fast-food chain has added signs at some restaurants saying it is no longer serving lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro and onion due to the outbreak, according to United Press International. It is unclear whether any Taco Bell customers have contracted the parasite.
Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services has reported nearly 1,000 cases since June 22, a number roughly 20 times the state’s typical annual total of about 50 cases of cyclosporiasis, the illness caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite. The state had recorded over 670 cases as of Monday, meaning more than 300 additional cases have been reported in a few days.
Health officials have also reported case spikes in Ohio, North Carolina, New York, Texas and Illinois, according to UPI.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes cyclosporiasis as causing “watery diarrhea” and “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements” that can last for a month or more. The infection, transmitted through the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, often surges in the summer months when fresh produce is consumed more heavily. Health officials said the parasite has been more prevalent in some states this year than in typical seasons.
The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have been investigating the source of the outbreak since cases began climbing in late spring. The CDC was probing over 400 cases across 18 states as of last week.
Health officials recommend thoroughly washing fresh produce, kitchen utensils and surfaces, and cooking raw produce to reduce the risk of infection.