Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce sickens hundreds across U.S.

The current Cyclospora outbreak is linked to iceberg lettuce in five states, and the illness has sickened hundreds across the United States.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness usually acquired by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Fresh produce is a common vehicle when it has contacted contaminated water, and the parasite is not spread person to person in the usual way. Leafy greens are a recurring concern, but the risk is tied to a specific contaminated item, not to all produce.

Symptoms usually begin about a week after exposure and can last for days to weeks. That delay makes outbreaks harder to track, since a person may not connect diarrhea and severe cramps to a meal eaten several days earlier. It also helps explain why public-health investigators can take time to identify a source, especially when cases are reported long after the food was eaten.

Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water, and scrub firm produce with a clean brush before cutting or eating it. Washing cannot reliably remove Cyclospora if the item itself is contaminated, so follow outbreak notices and avoid any named product.

Cyclospora outbreaks have been tied in the past to raspberries, basil, cilantro, green onions, snow peas, lettuce, mesclun and salad mixes. Taco Bell removed some ingredients as a precaution while investigators searched for the source. Anyone with persistent diarrhea or cramps after eating fresh produce should seek medical care and mention possible Cyclospora exposure.