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Cases of a parasitic illness linked to recalled iceberg lettuce have now been confirmed in 20 states in the United States, federal health officials reported on Thursday.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated that government scientists have now identified cases in three additional states: Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.
The total number of people sickened by the parasite is now up to 11,458, compared to about 10,900 reported last week.
The FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state health officials have focused their investigation on lettuce grown at a central Mexico farm operated by Taylor Farms, a major U.S. produce supplier.
The FDA noted that its staff continues to inspect and analyze products at the farm, in cooperation with Mexican government officials. The U.S. agency stated that it “remains confident that all iceberg lettuce recalled in connection with this specific cyclospora outbreak is no longer for sale.”
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC. Outbreaks tend to occur more frequently in late spring and during the boreal summer.
This parasite infects the intestines and is spread through feces. The illness, called cyclosporiasis, is less common than foodborne illnesses caused by other germs, including salmonella and E. coli. Many cases of cyclosporiasis are never linked to a specific food or other source.
The CDC reported this week that there have been nearly 29,000 confirmed or suspected cases of cyclospora in the United States this year. According to the agency, there have been 922 hospitalizations. Previously, the worst year in the United States for infections was 2019, when about 4,700 cases were reported nationwide.
[Publicidad]