The Health and Human Services Secretary said Tuesday that the federal government has brought the multistate cyclospora outbreak under control. Secretary Kennedy stated that investigators have identified the source of the illnesses and implemented recalls, while the Food and Drug Administration continues investigating the precise source of the contamination.
According to officials, the outbreak has sickened 1,644 people and hospitalized 94 across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Cyclospora infections have historically been linked to fresh produce, including leafy greens, herbs, and berries, although officials have not yet identified the contaminated product through laboratory testing in this investigation.
Cyclospora is a parasite that can cause prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, fatigue, and nausea. In some cases, patients require hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Food and Drug Administration said it continues to investigate the outbreak and collect product samples. While traceback investigators identified the supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants linked to the outbreak, no product samples connected to the investigation have produced a confirmed positive result for the parasite.
Earlier this week, the FDA said an initial laboratory result indicating a Taylor Farms lettuce sample tested positive for cyclospora should be considered a false positive following an additional laboratory review. Taylor Fresh Foods, the company that supplied the lettuce, voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after investigators linked the product to Taco Bell locations where many sick people ate before becoming ill.
The company's recall was limited to iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico and did not include Taylor Farms-branded salad products sold at retail. Secretary Kennedy also rejected criticism of the administration's response to the outbreak, stating that cuts to the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network did not affect the government's ability to investigate the outbreak.
Kennedy said the administration's surveillance efforts continue nationwide and that criticism of the response is "invalid." He added that the implementation of recalls and the identification of the source of the outbreak demonstrate the government's efforts to address the issue.
