Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce expands to 4 more states
The cyclosporiasis outbreak, the nation's largest, is currently affecting nine states.
Updated on: July 24, 2026 / 10:21 AM EDT / CBS News
A cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico has expanded to four more states, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to CBS News on Friday. This brings the total number of states affected to nine.
The newly linked states are Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. The outbreak was previously linked to Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The expansion was first reported by the Washington Post .
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that typically infects people through contaminated food or water. It causes cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness that can result in symptoms including severe diarrhea. Patients can require hospitalization .
The iceberg lettuce was linked to produce giant Taylor Farms . The company voluntarily recalled all of its iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Taylor Farms is a key supplier of lettuce and other produce to retailers including Walmart, Target and Whole Foods, and restaurant chains including Taco Bell .
The outbreak was already the nation's largest. Thousands of cases have been reported this year, far exceeding the 200 to 1,000 cases that are usually reported.