Missouri has joined a growing list of states reporting cyclosporiasis cases tied to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms. The outbreak, traced to contaminated water in fields in Mexico, now links Missouri as one of 17 affected states, health officials confirmed recently.
As of Sunday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 1,095 cases statewide, an increase from last week’s total. Of these, 568 have been directly connected to the contaminated lettuce, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Missouri now ranks third in the nation for cyclosporiasis cases related to the outbreak, following Michigan and Ohio.
The contaminated lettuce had been supplied to Taco Bell locations, Walmart stores, and additional food service outlets across 29 states. Taco Bell has since removed the affected lettuce from its supply chain and restaurants nationwide. "We can expect to continue to see the number of confirmed cases rise, despite the recall, due to the fact that it can take as long as six weeks for CDC and state officials to determine if a sick person is part of this outbreak," the FDA reported.
Boone County, in central Missouri, is among the areas heavily impacted, confirming 97 cases as of Thursday. Austin Krohn of the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services Department noted the sharp rise in cases statewide. Meanwhile, Taylor Nelson, an infectious disease specialist with MU Health Care, reported 96 cases identified in the University of Missouri Hospital System, with only one requiring hospitalization.
"Everything has been able to be managed on an outpatient basis, and there probably are more cases that are pretty mild that haven’t been identified," Nelson said. Nelson added that while similar outbreaks occur frequently during the summer months, this is one of the largest incidents to date, partly due to the widespread distribution of the contaminated product.
Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic infection that primarily causes diarrhea, fatigue, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. While generally treatable with antibiotics, individuals with weakened immune systems, young children, and the elderly are more vulnerable to severe illness. Medical professionals are prioritizing preventing dehydration as a significant concern.
Michigan, which currently leads the country in outbreak-linked cases, recently reported the first two deaths attributed to the illness. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, both individuals had underlying health conditions that were likely exacerbated by the infection and dehydration.
Nationwide, 6,358 cases have been directly tied to the contaminated lettuce as of this week, while another 10,468 cases remain under review. Health officials estimate over 12,000 additional cases are either awaiting laboratory confirmation or require further investigation.
The CDC and FDA have confirmed that national investigations into the outbreak are ongoing. “I would be hopeful, now we’re several weeks out from the recall, that we would start to see a decline," Nelson said, emphasizing the importance of continued public health surveillance.