According to the Washington Post, there are six more states involved in an outbreak of infections from the Cyclospora parasite that are associated with Taco Bell restaurants and/or Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce.
On Tuesday afternoon the Post reported that Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Missouri are now on the CDC list that already included Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The newspaper’s report cites unnamed sources. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not updated its state list as of the evening of August. 4. No one at the CDC responded to the paper’s request for confirmation.
The patient count for the Cyclospora outbreak in those 15 states stands at 21,393 cases — Michigan alone reports 11,508, including two deaths. The federal figure for the outbreak is 1,947.
“Whatever number CDC posts when it finally updates the page, hold it up against 21,393, because that is what the health departments of those fifteen states are already telling their own residents. However, how many above the 1,947 are linked to Taylor Farms and/or Taco Bell is still a guess,” said Bill Marler, food safety attorney and expert.
The CDC is reporting that 47 states are involved in separate cyclospora outbreaks and puts that patient count at 10,468 lab-confirmed and 12,255 additional cases that need further investigation. Add those together and CDC is now describing 22,723 people. The fifty state health departments are reporting 23,295.
For the 15-state outbreak, Michigan was the first to begin reporting. It interviewed patients and found a link to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms and served on Taco Bell menu items. Taco Bell immediately stopped serving Taylor Farms lettuce sourced from the company’s Central Mexico operations. On July 17 Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce from that farm.
Taylor Farms has stated that it sent the lettuce to 27 states that do not include Nebraska. However, many patients in Nebraska reported eating at Taco Bell restaurants before becoming ill. This suggests that the lettuce was further distributed by Taco Bell and possible other Taylor Farms customers.
State totals as of August. 4:
State2026 cases reportedRecalled lettuceWhere the number comes fromAlabama28 (Jul 20); 2 hosp.; 8 tied to two restaurant clustersYesADPH news releaseAlaska5 (Jul 16)NoAlaska DOH advisoryArizona19 (Jul 17)NoAZ DHS, via roundupArkansas123 (Jul 30); 75 in Benton CountyYesADH via KNWACalifornia41 provisional (Jul 14)NoCDPH NR26-024Colorado150 (Jul 17); 4 hosp.NoCDPHE, via roundupConnecticut35YesCT DPH press releaseDelawareNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceFlorida254 since May 1 (Jul 25); 264 calendar yearYesFDOH via News4JaxGeorgia11-30 since May 1 (Jul 17)YesGA DPH, via roundupHawaiiNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceIdahoNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceIllinois532 (Jul 29); 23 hosp. (Jul 16)YesCNN trackerIndiana1,176 (Jul 31)YesIDOH cases by countyIowa226 in 48 counties (Jul 30); 47 travel-relatedYesIowa HHS weekly reportKansas461 (Jul 29); 20 hosp.YesCNN tracker / KDHEKentucky468 (Jul 29); 7 hosp. (Jul 20)YesCNN trackerLouisiana1-10 (Jul 17)YesLA DOH, via roundupMaineNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceMaryland69 (Jul 17)YesMD DOH, via roundupMassachusetts18 (Jul 17)YesMA DPH, via roundupMichigan11,508 (Aug 4); 193 hosp. (Jul 30); 2 deathsYesMDHHS / CBS DetroitMinnesota41 since May 1 (Jul 17)NoMDH, via roundupMississippiNo count publishedYesFDA distribution listMissouri1,095 (Aug 2); doubled in one week; 90 in Boone CountyYesDHSS via KCTV5 / STLPRMontanaNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceNebraska49 (Jul 17)NoNE DHHS, via roundupNevadaNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceNew Hampshire33 confirmed (Jul 28); 2 hosp.; 17 tied to recalled lettuce at Cheshire Medical CenterYesNH DHHS / NHPRNew Jersey46 (May 1-Jul 11)YesNJDOH news releaseNew MexicoNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceNew York753 since May 1 (Jul 27 data); 787 calendar yearNoNYSDOHNorth Carolina718 since May 1 (Jul 27 data); 24 hosp.; 728 calendar year; 432 in Wake CountyYesNCDHHS / dashboardNorth DakotaNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceOhio4,013 in 80 counties (Jul 31); 96 hosp. (Jul 17); ODH puts Lucas Co. at 554, the county health dept. at 1,218 (Aug 3)YesODH via WOSU / Toledo BladeOklahoma303 (Jul 28); 18 hosp.YesOSDH via KSWOOregon23 in 2026 (Jul 24)NoOregon Health AuthorityPennsylvania82 (Jul 29); reported voluntarilyYesCNN trackerRhode Island4 since May 1 (Jul 17)NoRI DOH, via roundupSouth CarolinaNo count publishedYesFDA distribution listSouth DakotaNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceTennessee11-30 (Jul 17)YesTN DOH, via roundupTexas68 (Jul 13); 15 hosp.YesTexas DSHSUtah1-10 (Jul 17)NoUT DHHS, via roundupVermontNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceVirginia126 total (Jul 23); 66 domestic, 31 travel, 29 pendingYesVirginia DHWashington38 (May 1-Jul 17)NoWashington DOHWest Virginia268 (Jul 31); 19 hosp.YesWV OEPSWisconsin160 (Jul 29); 3 hosp.; 50 domestically acquiredYesWisconsin DHSWyomingNo count publishedNoCDC surveillanceNine outbreak states18,8119 Received the recalled lettuce21,83328 Did not receive it1,12422 All fifty states22,95750