Harvested iceberg lettuce in Santa Maria, California. Photograph: Tony Hertz/Universal Images Group/Getty ImagesHarvested iceberg lettuce in Santa Maria, California. Photograph: Tony Hertz/Universal Images Group/Getty ImagesUS officials declare multi-state cyclospora outbreak overOutbreak was linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, which infected 12,882 people and led to two deaths
The US’s largest recorded multi-state outbreak of sickness caused by the cyclospora parasite has ended, federal health officials announced on Friday.
The record outbreak of cyclosporiasis was linked to processed iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico, which infected 12,883 people across 21 states and led to 570 hospitalizations and two deaths.
“At this time, there is no risk of people getting sick with cyclosporiasis from this source. The best-by dates for all product linked to this outbreak have passed and it is no longer available in stores or restaurants,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday.
The federal agency added that it has seen a significant decrease in recent infections linked to this flare-up. Prior to the recall of the relevant packaged lettuces, there were more than 1,000 infections that occurred in a single day at the peak of the outbreak. In August, there were fewer than two infections per day on average.
Between 1 May and 8 September, the CDC reported a total of 19,595 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis across the US, including 12,883 infections linked to contaminated lettuce.
Cases were reported across 49 states and Washington DC. The median age of those infected was 46, with women accounting for 56% of cases and men accounting for 44%.
The hardest-hit states include Michigan, which reported more than 14,000 cases and two deaths, followed by Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
Despite the CDC declaring the outbreak over, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday that its investigation of associated with Taylor Farms de Mexico continues, as well as the investigations into other cyclospora clusters from this summer.
In a letter sent to supply chain industry leaders on Friday, the FDA said: “Our message is straightforward: while there are practices known to reduce Cyclospora risk, more work must be done. We are asking you to build on industry investments in prevention and mitigation efforts and to ensure these best practices are rigorously and consistently implemented throughout this supply chain.”
“FDA reminds the regulated industry that they must apply established, science-based agricultural water management practices, worker health and hygiene controls, and buildings and equipment sanitation practices,” the letter added.
It also said that “strong supplier verification is critical to ensuring that produce entering US commerce meets US food safety standards”.
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Meanwhile, the CDC continues to urge the public to wash their hands and thoroughly rinse fresh produce under running water before eating, cutting or cooking it.
The agency also recommends cutting away any damaged or bruised areas of fruits and vegetables and cooking produce to an internal temperature of at least 158F (70C), as washing alone cannot guarantee that the parasite will be removed.
Common symptoms of cyclosporiasis, which typically begin about one week after infection, include watery and sometimes explosive bouts of diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight, stomach cramps, bloating and increased digestive gas. Less common symptoms include vomiting, body aches and headaches, as well as a low-grade fever.
Reuters contributed reporting
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