An outbreak of a parasite that causes diarrhea has ended, officials said on Sept. 11.
The outbreak of cyclosporiasis, caused by the parasite Cyclospora, left more than 12,800 people sickened, 570 hospitalized, and two dead across 21 states. Most of the illnesses started before July 17.
“This outbreak has ended. The number of recent infections linked to the outbreak has significantly declined. The contaminated lettuce linked to this outbreak is no longer available in stores or restaurants,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.
At the peak of the outbreak, more than 1,000 infections occurred in a single day. Fewer than two infections per day on average were recorded in August.
States with cases linked to the outbreak were: Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Virginia was added in the latest update.
Authorities said the outbreak stemmed from iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, which Taylor Farms sold to various outlets, including Taco Bell. It was recalled in mid-July.
The Food and Drug Administration is continuing to investigate the outbreak, the agency said on Friday.
“FDA will continue to work with federal, state, and international partners to complete its investigation and will provide updates as they become available,” the FDA said.
Officials in Michigan, which was hit the hardest by the outbreak, said in a recent statement that “available information indicates that lettuce or salad greens may be a potential source of this outbreak” but that “other food items cannot be completely ruled out.”
The two deaths occurred in the state. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said medical records showed that both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration.
People contract the parasite by consuming food or water contaminated with feces and usually start to experience symptoms about one week later. Symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, and cramping. Watery, explosive diarrhea is another symptom.
Nationwide, the number of cyclosporiasis cases rose sharply this year compared to previous years.
Through Sept. 8, the CDC reported 19,595 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cases across 49 states and the District of Columbia. No other deaths were reported beyond the two in Michigan.
The causes of other clusters have not been identified, according to federal officials.