Cyclospora Infections Surge in Delaware and Kansas Counties
WHO:
6abc Philadelphia - Delaware health officials confirmed the first case of cyclosporiasis.
KCUR - Dr. Dana Hawkinson at the University of Kansas Health System commented on the situation.
WHAT:
CNN - Health departments in nine states have reported over 12,000 cases of cyclosporiasis so far this summer, with the majority of those cases in Michigan.
CNN - Taylor Farms has recalled shredded lettuce that was shipped to restaurants, food services, and retailers in 27 states.
6abc Philadelphia - The FDA is investigating a new potential outbreak of cyclosporiasis that includes at least 72 cases of the parasite, but the source has not yet been specified.
KCUR - Missouri’s Department of Health and Human Services has logged 216 cyclosporiasis cases in that state through last weekend, which is a new statistic not previously mentioned.
6abc Philadelphia - Health officials stated that the contaminated food has likely already been eaten or pulled from the shelves, but the illness can take a while to appear, leading to a continued rise in cases.
KCUR - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported that Johnson County has recorded 95 cases of cyclosporiasis, while Wyandotte County has recorded 11 cases.
KCUR - Health officials have documented well over 4,000 cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide this year, with Michigan being especially hard hit.
KCUR - Dr. Dana Hawkinson stated that the current number of cyclosporiasis cases in Kansas is likely an undercount, as some individuals may be asymptomatic or only experience mild symptoms.
KCUR - Missouri’s Department of Health and Human Services has logged 216 cyclosporiasis cases in that state through last weekend, which is a new statistic not previously mentioned.
6abc Philadelphia - The FDA is investigating a new potential outbreak of cyclosporiasis that includes at least 72 cases of the parasite.
KCUR - Kansas cyclosporiasis cases have jumped more than fivefold in a week, with the latest count showing 289 known cases.
KCUR - Michigan has been especially hard hit by the outbreak, with health officials documenting well over 4,000 cases nationwide this year.
6abc Philadelphia - Delaware recorded its first case of cyclosporiasis amid a nationwide outbreak.
6abc Philadelphia - The FDA linked the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms.
KCUR - Kansas reported a jump in cyclosporiasis cases from 55 to 289, with 95 cases in Johnson County alone.
KCUR - Health officials documented well over 4,000 cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide this year.
KCUR - Missouri's Department of Health and Human Services logged 216 cyclosporiasis cases.
WHERE:
6abc Philadelphia - The outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, which is suspected to be part of the contamination source for Taco Bells.
6abc Philadelphia - The first case in Delaware was confirmed.
KCUR - Johnson County and Wyandotte County in Kansas reported cases of cyclosporiasis.
KCUR - Taco Bells received iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, which is suspected to be part of the contamination source.
WHEN:
6abc Philadelphia - The first case of cyclosporiasis in Delaware was confirmed this week.
KCUR - The latest count of 289 cases in Kansas was reported on Wednesday.
WHY:
CNN - Detailed interviews with patients have helped health officials identify iceberg lettuce sourced from Central Mexico as the likely source of contamination.
KCUR - Dr. Dana Hawkinson stated that the cyclospora parasite doesn’t normally transmit directly from person to person, emphasizing the importance of identifying the source of contamination.
6abc Philadelphia - The outbreak is linked to contaminated food, specifically shredded iceberg lettuce.
KCUR - The cyclospora parasite typically spreads through food contaminated with feces.
HOW:
6abc Philadelphia - The CDC states that it takes about one week from the time of infection to become symptomatic, but this time can range from two days to two weeks.
KCUR - Dr. Dana Hawkinson emphasized that Bactrim, a common antibiotic, is effective for treating cyclosporiasis and is a safe and proven medication.
KCUR - To obtain a conclusive diagnosis of cyclosporiasis, doctors need a stool sample, which may require multiple samples on different days due to laboratory testing challenges.
6abc Philadelphia - Cyclosporiasis is diagnosed by testing stool samples, which may require multiple samples for accurate detection.
6abc Philadelphia - Treatment for cyclosporiasis involves the oral antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX).
KCUR - Doctors need a stool sample to obtain a conclusive diagnosis of cyclosporiasis.
(UPDATED July 24, 2026 14:35 UTC)
Health departments in nine states have reported over 12,000 cases of cyclosporiasis this summer, with Michigan seeing the highest number of cases. In response to the outbreak, Taylor Farms has recalled shredded lettuce that was shipped to restaurants, food services, and retailers across 27 states. Health officials have traced the contamination back to iceberg lettuce sourced from Central Mexico, based on detailed interviews with affected patients.
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(UPDATED July 24, 2026 13:25 UTC)
The FDA is currently investigating a potential outbreak of cyclosporiasis, with at least 72 reported cases, although the source of the outbreak has not yet been identified. In Missouri, the Department of Health and Human Services has reported a total of 216 cases of cyclosporiasis, a new statistic that highlights the growing concern. The outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, which is suspected to be part of the contamination source for Taco Bell, and Dr. Dana Hawkinson has noted that the cyclospora parasite typically does not transmit directly from person to person, underscoring the need to pinpoint the source of this contamination.
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(UPDATED July 24, 2026 02:50 UTC)
Health officials are warning that contaminated food linked to a rise in cyclosporiasis cases may have already been consumed or removed from store shelves, as symptoms can take time to appear. In Kansas, Johnson County has reported 95 cases while Wyandotte County has seen 11, contributing to a troubling national total of over 4,000 cases this year, with Michigan particularly affected. The CDC notes that it typically takes about a week for symptoms to develop after infection, although this can vary from two days to two weeks.
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(UPDATED July 24, 2026 01:26 UTC)
Dr. Dana Hawkinson has indicated that the number of cyclosporiasis cases in Kansas is likely an undercount, as some individuals may not show symptoms or only have mild ones. Meanwhile, Missouri's Department of Health and Human Services has reported a total of 216 cyclosporiasis cases, a statistic that had not been previously disclosed. Dr. Hawkinson also highlighted that Bactrim, a common antibiotic, is both effective and safe for treating this infection.
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(UPDATED July 23, 2026 17:25 UTC)
The FDA is currently investigating a new potential outbreak of cyclosporiasis, which has already seen at least 72 confirmed cases. In Kansas, the number of cases has surged more than fivefold in just a week, bringing the total to 289 known cases, while Michigan has been particularly affected, with health officials reporting over 4,000 cases nationwide this year. To accurately diagnose cyclosporiasis, doctors typically require a stool sample, and due to the complexities of laboratory testing, multiple samples may be necessary over different days.
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(UPDATED July 23, 2026 16:27 UTC)
Delaware health officials have confirmed the state's first case of cyclosporiasis amid a nationwide outbreak linked to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms. In Kansas, the number of reported cases has surged from fifty-five to two hundred eighty-nine, with ninety-five of those in Johnson County alone, while Missouri's Department of Health has logged two hundred sixteen cases. Health experts emphasize that cyclosporiasis is typically diagnosed through stool samples and can be treated with the oral antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.