Cyclosporiasis, the infection caused by the rare parasite Cyclospora, has been diagnosed in 442 people in 16 states, 22 of whom have required hospitalization. Taylor Farms de Mexico food service salad served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants has been determined to be the source of 232 of those illness in Iowa and Nebraska.
Taylor Farms salads sold at grocery stores are not implicated in this outbreak, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A recall of the foodservice salad has not been issued.
In addition to Iowa and Nebraska, 14 other states have reported cases of Cyclosporiasis, but it is not clear at this point if all of the cases are related. Those 16 states reported a total of 442 cases of Cyclospora infection to Food Poisoning Bulletin on August 2. By state the case counts are as follows: Iowa (148), Texas (140), Nebraska (84), Florida (25), Wisconsin* (12), Arkansas* (8) New York (6), Illinois* (4) Georgia (4), Missouri (3), Connecticut (2), Louisiana (2), Kansas *(2), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), Ohio (1), (*Notes: Arkansas health officials previously believed that one of the cases in that state was not part of the outbreak, but they now believe that all of them are. Florida has not found a common restaurant or food exposure among its case patients. One of the cases in Illinois is associated with travel to Iowa. One of the Kansas cases was likely exposed while visiting Nebraska. In Wisconsin, tests on two cases are pending, and two other cases have been ruled out as they are associated with travel outside the country. The total number of cases in this story is current per each state today and therefore exceeds the number on the CDC’s most recent update.)
