United States health authorities declared on Friday, September 11, that the country’s largest recorded multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections has ended. The outbreak, linked to processed iceberg lettuce, affected 12,883 people across 21 states, resulted in 570 hospitalizations and caused two deaths, according to the final tally from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The end of the alert means that recent infections associated with this batch have declined sharply and that the products involved are past their use-by dates and are no longer available in stores or restaurants. The CDC says there is currently no risk of illness from the lettuce linked to this outbreak.
Decline in cases allowed the alert to end
At the peak of the outbreak, before the recall, more than 1,000 infections occurred in a single day. In August, the average fell to fewer than two cases per day associated with the same source. That sustained decline led the CDC to issue its final update on Friday.
This outbreak accounted for more than half of the 19,595 laboratory-confirmed cyclosporiasis cases reported in the United States since May 1, according to CDC data cited by Reuters. The scale made 2026 the worst year on record in the country for the parasitic illness.
Lettuce removed from the market
A joint investigation by federal and state authorities linked the outbreak to processed iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico. On July 17, the company recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Every product associated with the outbreak is now past its expiration date.
Although the outbreak is over, the investigation is not fully complete. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to examine how the lettuce became contaminated. Authorities have therefore identified the product associated with the infections but have not yet determined the precise origin of the contamination.
What cyclosporiasis is
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People can become infected by consuming contaminated food or water. Common symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, cramping, bloating, nausea and fatigue.
Symptoms usually begin about one week after exposure, although the interval can range from two days to two weeks or longer. Direct person-to-person transmission is considered unlikely because the parasite must remain outside the body for a period before becoming infectious.
Food safety precautions remain important
The end of this outbreak does not eliminate the possibility of infections from other sources. The CDC recommends washing hands and fresh produce thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking. The agency notes that washing can reduce risk but cannot guarantee complete removal of the parasite; adequate cooking can kill it.
Friday’s update closes a specific public-health emergency rather than removing all food-safety risks. Authorities continue to monitor new cases, and the FDA may release additional information if investigators determine how the contamination occurred.
