Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Expands to Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, July 25, 2026

Health officials have identified a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, now affecting nine states with nearly 2,000 reported illnesses and prompting a recall of bagged lettuce distributed across 27 states. The outbreak contributes to a record-high national surge in cyclosporiasis cases this year, with public health agencies warning that case counts will likely rise as investigations and diagnoses continue.

Health officials have reported an expanding outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to iceberg lettuce, with four additional states now affected, bringing the total number involved to nine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania recently joined Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia in reporting cases associated with the outbreak.

As of Thursday, at least 1,947 illnesses have been identified, including 98 hospitalizations. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has traced the infections to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and cultivated in central Mexico. On July 17, Taylor Farms issued a recall of bagged iceberg lettuce distributed across 27 states, encompassing areas where cases have occurred. The affected products were sold through various channels, including restaurants such as Taco Bell, retail outlets, and food service distributors like Walmart. However, detailed information on exactly which products and locations were impacted has not been clearly communicated by the company.

This outbreak is part of a wider trend in cyclosporiasis activity nationwide. According to the CDC, over 11,500 cases of cyclosporiasis have been confirmed or are currently under investigation across the United States this year, marking the highest incidence on record. Typically, the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which causes the illness, prospers in warm weather, with cases traditionally rising between early May and late August. Even accounting for this seasonal pattern, the current numbers are substantially elevated compared to previous years’ averages of approximately 2,800 cases annually since 2016.

Michigan continues to report the highest number of cases at 7,664, a figure likely underestimated due to shortages of laboratory supplies necessary for testing. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, highlighted that some laboratories have depleted the reagents required to confirm diagnoses, suggesting the true case count may be considerably higher.

In North Carolina, where cases increased to 561 from 307 in a single week, health officials have yet to identify a definitive common source. According to Sean Doyle, a spokesman for the state health department, patient interviews frequently mentioned consumption of parsley, cilantro, berries, and romaine lettuce. While these items remain under investigation, Doyle emphasized that their mention does not constitute proof of causation, noting berries were less likely implicated relative to other produce.

Other states have also seen sharp rises. Ohio reported 2,576 cases as of Thursday, more than doubling the prior count from mid-July, while Indiana’s cases surpassed 684, tripling in the same period. Despite Taylor Farms’ recall, the FDA cautioned that the number of confirmed cases is expected to continue growing. Officials note that the process of diagnosing, reporting, and confirming cyclosporiasis infections, which can take up to six weeks, contributes to ongoing increases in case numbers.

Meanwhile, the FDA continues to investigate separate cyclosporiasis outbreaks across the country that are not linked to this iceberg lettuce outbreak. The agency announced a new cluster involving 72 cases but has not disclosed further details concerning its source or location. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and urge consumers to exercise caution with fresh produce during this period.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.