Cyclospora linked to iceberg lettuce has spread to nine US states, part of the largest reported outbreak in US history, health officials said on Friday. Cases tied to the lettuce from central Mexico now have been reported in Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia had also reported cases linked to the lettuce. The cyclospora parasite causes cyclosporiasis and leads to explosive diarrhoea. There are multiple outbreaks in the US, likely from different sources. Since mid-May, the number of cases tracked by the CDC has increased to more than 11,000 across 41 states. Michigan has been the hardest hit state, with health officials there saying on Friday that the number infected has increased to more than 8,100. Residents stricken by the parasite told the BBC it was "the most painful thing I've ever been through in my life".
Published: July 24, 2026 6:00 pm
Source: BBC — Read original