FDA Announces Another Cyclospora Outbreak

What is already the worst year on record in the US for the parasite known as cyclospora just got a little bit worse. The FDA says it's investigating a new outbreak of a related intestinal illness that has sickened at least 72 people, reports the New York Times. The agency, however, has not said where the new cluster of cyclosporiasis is, or what the source might be. It's one of six cyclospora investigations underway, including a much larger outbreak of at least 1,644 illnesses in five Midwestern states. The agency has linked that larger outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms grown in central Mexico, even after a false positive in its testing, notes the Hill.

Food safety experts say the new 72-case cluster may or may not ultimately prove distinct to the larger outbreak centered in Michigan. Unlike with bacteria, it's harder to genetically link parasite strains, leaving investigators in what one scientist called a "wait-and-see situation." The CDC this week reported more than 11,000 cyclospora cases nationwide so far this year, compared with an annual average of about 2,800 since 2016. The surge comes as federal, state, and local food-safety teams try to manage simultaneous outbreak investigations with fewer staff and resources.