The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says at least 7,000 confirmed and suspected cyclospora cases have been reported across 36 states in an outbreak that began in May and will likely continue into August. The CDC reports 141 hospitalizations so far and notes the true number of infections is almost certainly higher because many people with mild illness recover without testing. Michigan led early case detection and completed more than 1,000 meal-tracing interviews; investigators say current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source, although other foods cannot be ruled out. No specific type of produce, grower, supplier, outlet, or ingredient has been identified as the definitive source. Health officials say tracing is difficult because symptoms can take up to two weeks to appear and testing produce requires washing large volumes and testing runoff. Taco Bell told USA Today it voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients from select restaurants as a precaution but health authorities had not confirmed a link to the chain. Public health officials and state agencies continue meal-tracing and laboratory work to try to pinpoint the contaminated item and its source.
