US health officials have identified shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants as the source of the infection.
US health authorities have identified shredded iceberg lettuce served at Mexico’s largest fast-food chain as the source of an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic disease that causes severe and explosive diarrhea.
More than 1,600 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported across the country since early May, and 94 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the actual number of infections could be much higher because many cases go undiagnosed.
The CDC on Friday identified the chain as Taco Bell and said a background investigation linked contaminated products to a single vendor in central Mexico. The CDC urged people not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The agency said an associated supplier, Taylor Farms de Mexico, has voluntarily withdrawn all iceberg lettuce from the US market. Officials are continuing to investigate whether the contaminated products were distributed to other restaurants or retailers.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. This disease usually causes explosive watery diarrhea, along with bloating, gas, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Some people also experience fatigue and fever, while others experience no symptoms at all.
The infection is usually contracted by eating food or water contaminated with feces, and symptoms appear about a week after exposure, according to the CDC.
Although the disease can be treated with antibiotics, it goes undiagnosed by many common laboratory tests, making it difficult to diagnose. If untreated, the infection can persist for more than a month, with frequent diarrhea being the most characteristic feature.
The parasite is found in tropical and warm countries. There is no evidence that it can be transmitted from human to human.
Previous outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in the United States have been linked to cilantro, raspberries, sweet peas, lettuce, and basil imported from Mexico.
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