18,000 cases. Two deaths. And it all may have started with a lettuce.
This is how the CDC summarizes the cyclosporiasis outbreak that has been hitting the United States for three months, caused by the Cyclospora parasite. The disease causes watery, explosive diarrhea, fatigue, low-grade fever, and stomach cramps that in some cases lead to hospitalization: in Michigan alone, where the two deaths occurred, 11,234 infections and 193 hospitalizations were recorded.
The FDA suspects that the source is contaminated iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in Mexico, distributed through chains such as Taco Bell. The victims, whose identities were not disclosed, had pre-existing medical conditions that dehydration worsened. It is not the first time: in 2018 and 2019, the United States already faced similar outbreaks caused by imported salads and herbs.