Nearly 7,000 people across the United States have been confirmed sick or are under investigation for cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal illness, according to the CDC. Health officials are now pointing to Taco Bell restaurants and fresh lettuce as central targets of their investigation.
According to NBC News and The Washington Post, the CDC issued a health advisory as case numbers climbed rapidly in recent weeks. The outbreak has drawn national attention because of both the scale of confirmed infections and the speed at which cases are accumulating across multiple states.
Kentucky is among the states seeing a rise in cases, according to LEX 18 News. State health officials there are tracking infections and urging residents who develop symptoms after eating at Taco Bell locations to contact their healthcare providers. Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which is typically spread through contaminated food or water, particularly fresh produce.
The illness can cause watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. Symptoms can last weeks or even months if left untreated. Unlike some bacterial foodborne illnesses, cyclosporiasis does not spread directly from person to person. It requires the parasite to go through a maturation process outside the body before it becomes infectious again.
Lettuce has been flagged as a likely vehicle because it is served fresh at Taco Bell locations and is difficult to decontaminate through standard washing. Fresh produce has been linked to previous Cyclospora outbreaks in the United States, including major incidents tied to bagged salad mixes and fresh herbs in prior years.
The CDC has not issued a formal recall as of the reporting date, but the agency is working with the Food and Drug Administration and state health departments to trace the source of the contaminated produce. Taco Bell has not been confirmed as the sole point of exposure, and the investigation remains active.
Officials are encouraging anyone who ate at a Taco Bell and developed gastrointestinal symptoms in the past several weeks to report their illness to local health authorities. Early reporting helps investigators identify clusters and narrow down specific menu items or supply chain sources.
The outbreak is ongoing, and the CDC says case counts may continue to rise as investigation and testing proceed.
