CDC Declares Cyclospora Outbreak Over

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the Cyclospora outbreak related to Taylor Farms lettuce over on Friday. The outbreak, which resulted in 12,883 cases, 570 hospitalizations, and two deaths across 21 states, is no longer a threat as the contaminated lettuce is no longer available in stores or restaurants.

Thousands of people fell ill during the outbreak, which rapidly surged throughout the country this summer. Federal authorities searched for the origin of the outbreak amid a backdrop of overlapping food safety investigations. Taylor Farms, a large retail and restaurant supplier, recalled lettuce sourced from central Mexico in connection with the outbreak. The outbreak also included people who reported eating at Taco Bell, which removed the affected Taylor Farms lettuce.

The FDA's investigation into the outbreak remains ongoing, with on-site inspections and sample collections at lettuce growers and the Mexico-based processing facility having ended. The samples are pending analysis. Health officials stressed the challenge of tracking the tiny parasite due to the short shelf life of fresh produce and the lengthy incubation period before symptoms appear.