SerpApi.Org
After the weekend, Illinois has now surpassed 350 reported cases of Cyclospora across the state as officials still work through causes for the outbreak.
In their case count update for Monday, July 20, the Illinois Department of Public Health has reported 355 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis in the state, up about 50 cases from the Friday report. There have been 28 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.
180 cases are believed to be domestically acquired while 134 cases are believed to have been acquired outside the United States.
This comes as the CDC and FDA initially pointed at a batch of lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms de Mexico, that provided shredded iceberg lettuce used by Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill. However, they did note that one of their tests of the lettuce came back as a false positive.
Still, the FDA announced that Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajuato, Mexico, would be voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market. Taylor Fresh Foods’ recall notice included Marketside-brand products available at Walmart such as the 12-oz and 24-oz Iceberg Salad with Best if Used By dates from July 18 to Aug. 3 and the 8-oz and 16-oz Shredded Lettuce with Best if Used By dates July 18 to Aug 3, 2026.
What is cyclosporiasis
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite. People can become infected by consuming food or water that contains the parasite. Cyclospora infects the small intestine and usually causes frequent, watery and explosive diarrhea. The time between exposure and illness is usually about one week but can range from two days to two weeks or more. Untreated, the illness may last from a few days to more than a month. Symptoms may go away and then return.
Cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening, but dehydration from frequent bouts of diarrhea can cause severe illness, particularly among younger or older people and those who have weakened immune systems.
