Intestinal parasite already made thousands of Americans sick: Taco Bell not to blame

©Marcel Heil via Unsplash

The United States is dealing with a notable outbreak of the intestinal parasite Cyclospora this summer, and the source remains unknown for now. What began with infections in Michigan has since spread to 41 states, with thousands of confirmed cases and even more suspected cases, according to recent CDC figures.

The infection often starts innocently with diarrhea, but the symptoms persist and can last for weeks. In addition to persistent diarrhea, patients also report nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal cramps, loss of appetite, and sometimes a mild fever. When these specific symptoms persist for so long, Cyclospora is currently one of the primary suspects in the United States. Cyclospora spreads through contaminated food or water, usually fresh vegetables, fruit, or herbs.

So it wasn’t Taco Bell’s iceberg lettuce after all

Late last week, the source seemed to have been identified for a brief moment: finely chopped iceberg lettuce from the fast-food chain Taco Bell. Many infected individuals had eaten there, prompting the Food and Drug Administration to launch an investigation. However, one test turned out to be a false positive, so the search for the true source continues. Moreover, the parasite is difficult to detect. It can take days to weeks for symptoms to appear, so patients don’t always know what they’ve eaten.

Cyclospora is also difficult to detect in the laboratory. Specific tests are required for detection, and a single infected leaf says nothing about the rest of the head of lettuce. After all, if the parasite isn’t found on one leaf, that doesn’t mean the rest of the head is safe. Despite the concern, experts say there is no need to panic. Heating kills the parasite, and treatment with antibiotics is possible.

©Marcel Heil via Unsplash - illustrative image of a fast-food restaurant.