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U.S. Cyclospora outbreak reaches over 17,000 confirmed cases across multiple states

Health officials report hundreds of hospitalizations and two deaths linked to the parasitic outbreak primarily affecting the Midwest.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 12:19 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Federal health officials have confirmed 17,180 cyclosporiasis cases and at least 517 hospitalizations across the U.S. this summer.
  • The outbreak is heavily concentrated in Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states, with Michigan reporting two deaths associated with the parasitic infection.
  • Iceberg lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms has been linked to a portion of the cases, prompting voluntary recalls across 27 states.
  • Health experts indicate positive test rates are dropping, suggesting the outbreak may have passed its peak.

Key facts

  • The CDC has recorded 17,180 laboratory-confirmed cyclosporiasis cases across the U.S. as of August 31, with an additional 11,844 cases under investigation.[Business Insider]
  • At least 517 hospitalizations have occurred nationwide, and Michigan health officials reported the outbreak's first two deaths.[Business Insider]
  • The primary hotspot includes nine states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, along with notable case numbers in Missouri.[Business Insider]
  • The CDC linked 1,947 cases to specific iceberg lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell locations in nine states.[Business Insider]
  • Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall on July 17 for iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and distributed across 27 states between June 29 and July 16.[Business Insider]

What remains uncertain

  • Epidemiologists caution that fragmented data infrastructure makes establishing the exact total case count and full trajectory difficult, though falling positivity rates suggest infection rates are slowing.[Business Insider]
  • Health officials have not ruled out additional contamination sources beyond iceberg lettuce, including a suspected separate outbreak tied to cilantro in New York.[Business Insider]

Sources