Contaminated Herbs Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak in North Carolina
Health officials in North Carolina are now connecting contaminated parsley and cilantro to the increasing Cyclospora outbreaks in the state, but they are not attributing the problem to Taco Bell.
Officials have previously identified lettuce as a contributing factor, which has been a common issue in the state.
This recent discovery marks the first time, beyond iceberg lettuce, that another agricultural product is thought to be involved in illnesses linked to Cyclospora, both in North Carolina and nationally.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has stated that, currently, it’s unclear where the contamination of local herbs originated, but it appears that this outbreak is not associated with incidents in other states involving Taco Bell.
“We don’t see that association here,” said Carl Williams, a public health official with NCDHHS, during a news conference. “We can say this because we work with local health departments to thoroughly investigate all reported cases.”
Cyclosporiasis, an intestinal disease caused by the Cyclospora parasite, can lead to severe diarrhea. Alarmingly, cases have surged to 11,500 individuals across 41 states, with over 4,000 confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Moreover, more than 300 people have been hospitalized in various states due to the outbreak.
In North Carolina alone, there have been 561 reported cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1, with 256 of those occurring just since July 14, which is only ten days ago. Sixteen of the affected individuals required hospitalization.
As the situation spreads nationwide, Taylor Farms recently recalled iceberg lettuce potentially tainted with Cyclospora, which had been distributed to 27 states and sold in grocery stores and Taco Bell locations.
The FDA has advised people against consuming this lettuce, urging caution due to its possible link to the illness.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis are well-known. They include watery diarrhea, along with loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, and fatigue, according to food safety regulators.
