The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported on Monday, Aug. 3, that two people had died in its cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Both had significant underlying health conditions that may have been affected by the infection and dehydration, the department said. Officials did not release their names, ages, or other details.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Michigan deaths were part of a nine-state outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce.
Michigan has received 11,234 case reports during its outbreak investigation. The state listed 193 hospitalizations through Thursday, July 30.
The state figures include all reported cases and may change as the investigation continues.
The CDC’s national surveillance count is different because it includes laboratory-confirmed domestic cases, not probable cases. The agency had recorded 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases across 45 states through Monday, July 27. At least 423 patients had been hospitalized.
The only states not reporting cases are Maine, South Carolina, New Mexico, Montana, and Hawaii.
The CDC also knew of more than 11,500 additional cases that were not laboratory confirmed or still required analysis. Those figures should not be combined into a confirmed-case total.
Taylor Farms recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on Friday, July 17. The products reached consumers, restaurants, and retailers in at least 27 states.
The CDC warned that other Cyclospora outbreaks and illnesses across the country are not connected to the lettuce cluster.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes a gastrointestinal illness called cyclosporiasis. Symptoms include frequent watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, appetite loss, weight loss, and extreme fatigue.
Symptoms usually begin about 1 week after exposure but can take 2 days to 2 weeks or longer to appear. Untreated illness can last a month or more and may return after appearing to subside.
Anyone with persistent symptoms should contact a health care provider and ask about specific testing for Cyclospora. Routine stool tests do not always screen for the parasite.
Consumers should discard recalled lettuce or return it to the place of purchase. Surfaces and containers that touched the lettuce should be cleaned with hot, soapy water.
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