Untraced outbreaks of the “explosive diarrhea” illness cyclosporiasis are still on the rise, even as the Trump administration says nationwide spread has been “contained.” The largest outbreak - which began in Michigan in May and has been tied to contaminated iceberg lettuce from a Taylor Farms facility in Mexico - has slowed over the past month, according to data from state health officials. However smaller outbreaks, caused by unknown food sources, are still growing in number since they were first reported in July, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week.
It’s not clear where these outbreaks are because the FDA has yet to attach states to the data. But the agency says it is investigating potential causes and products that could be linked. While FDA investigations into the outbreaks are underway, top Trump health officials have said that the U.S. food supply remains safe and that fresh produce is safe to eat.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. told reporters last month that the situation is “under control.” "Americans should feel confident in eating fresh produce including leafy greens at this point. FDA remains confident that all iceberg lettuce related to the cyclospora outbreak has been effectively removed from the market,” acting FDA commissioner Kyle Diamantas also told CNBC last Thursday.
The Department of Health and Human Services posted on X the same day that cyclospora had been “contained” and American food was “safe.” Federal response has been guided by scientific evidence and the administration is working closely with state and local health departments to identify exposure sources and provide Americans with evidence-based information, a spokesperson for HHS told The Independent Tuesday. Taylor Farms subsequently agreed to remove affected products from the market,” the spokesperson wrote. FDA investigators responsible for outbreak investigations were not impacted by staffing changes or reductions in force.” People in 40 states have fallen ill with cyclosporiasis this year after being exposed to the microscopic parasite cyclospora.
More new cases were reported this week in Hawaii, Wisconsin and Nebraska. There are currently close to 25,000 cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Michigan - the epicenter of a major outbreak - has seen nearly 14,000 of those cases, as well as the only two deaths from infections so far.
Three smaller outbreaks total in the dozens or hundreds of cases, the FDA data shows. The largest increased by 60 cases this month, totaling 172 people who have fallen ill. Cyclosporiasis is mainly caused by contaminated produce and past outbreaks have also been traced to cilantro, raspberries, basil and snow peas.
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