Topline

Michigan state health officials reported two cyclosporiasis-linked deaths Monday, the first deaths linked to the outbreak in the hardest-hit state, where total cases have surpassed 11,000.

Key Facts

Michigan’s Health and Human Services department said Monday two deaths have been linked to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak in the state, noting “both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration.”

The state health department said it will not provide any additional information on the two deaths.

State health officials said cyclosporiasis, known for symptoms including explosive diarrhea, gas and nausea, is generally not life-threatening.

Total cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan, the hardest-hit state in the outbreak, have totaled 11,234 as of Monday, state health officials said.

No deaths had been reported in any state as of July 27, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest case tally.

What Do We Know About The Cyclosporiasis Outbreak?

Cyclosporiasis cases have been reported in 47 states and Washington, D.C., according to the CDC’s latest tally. The CDC has identified 6,707 lab-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States, adding it is aware of 11,500 suspected cases that are not yet lab confirmed or require additional investigation. The CDC has linked one outbreak spanning nine states to iceberg lettuce, and the Food and Drug Administration said the outbreak is linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell. The FDA initially said lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms had tested positive for cyclospora parasites, but later said the result was a false positive. The FDA, though, says there is “overwhelming epidemiological data” that supports a link between Taylor Farms lettuce and the cyclosporiasis outbreak. In mid-July, Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall of lettuce shipped from central Mexico to the United States.

What Is Cyclosporiasis?

Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal disease caused by the cyclospora parasite, according to the CDC. People can become infected by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, and the disease is not known to spread directly from person to person. After ingesting the parasite, it can take weeks for symptoms to develop. The main symptom is diarrhea, described by experts as sometimes “explosive,” with other symptoms including loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating and increased gas. To prevent infection, experts recommend following basic hygienic practices, like washing hands before preparing food and rinsing fruits and vegetables before eating.

tangent

Taco Bell traffic plunged amid the cyclosporiasis outbreak, though the restaurant chain says it is recovering. Customer visits on July 17 were roughly 31% below average Friday traffic for the year to date, according to Placer.ai, which tracks traffic through mobile devices. Executives at Yum Brands, which owns Taco Bell, said last week sales at restaurants have stabilized and are down about 2%. “The sales impact will be temporary, and we appreciate our fans who are coming back and showing their love for Taco Bell,” Chris Turner, Yum Brands CEO, said on an earnings call last week.

further reading

Michigan Passes 10,000 Cyclosporiasis Cases—And Experts Still Don’t Have A Definitive Cause (Forbes)

Taco Bell Visits Dropped Over 30%—More Than Initially Reported—Amid Outbreak (Forbes)