U.S. health authorities have widened their probe into a cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico after detecting cases in six additional states, raising the total to 15 states, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The newly linked states are Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Carolina, the source said.
The FDA and the CDC first identified an outbreak in five states related to lettuce eaten at Yum Brands' (YUM.N) Taco Bell restaurants. They later named Taylor Farms in central Mexico as the source of the lettuce. On July 24, they widened the number of states in the outbreak to nine.
The authorities are still looking for other potential sources.
Cyclosporiasis can be contracted by consuming food — typically raw fruits and vegetables — or water contaminated with feces. The intestinal infection is caused by the cyclospora parasite, which can result in diarrhea, nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
The worst of the outbreak has occurred in Michigan, where cases have ballooned since June and the state reported the first two deaths associated with the outbreak. It said both individuals had significant underlying health conditions.
TACO BELL CUSTOMERS DROP
U.S. consumers have been buying less lettuce and avoiding some restaurant chains as the outbreak raises concerns about food safety.
Foot traffic at Taco Bell has declined every day since July 13 except on July 28, when the chain ran a promotional event. Visits were down 11.1% on August 1 compared with the average for Saturdays between January 1 and July 6, compared to a 19.1% fall the week prior, according to Placer.ai data.
Cases have risen steadily across the United States in recent months, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with reports from 47 states.
Michigan health officials reported 12,218 cases linked to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis on Wednesday, an increase of 710 cases since its last update a day earlier. The state also reported 193 hospitalizations as of July 30.
Nationwide, the CDC has received reports of 10,468 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis and is aware of more than 12,255 additional cases that are not laboratory-confirmed. The agency's surveillance lags state reporting by several weeks.
A spokesperson for the Arkansas state health department also confirmed that it is one of the six new states the CDC is adding to the multistate outbreak. Arkansas has seen 205 cases of the infection as of Wednesday.
North Carolina has reported 149 new cases since July 28 with nine new hospitalizations, according to state health department data.
