Michigan Logs Over 14,000 Cyclospora Cases Tied to Lettuce

The 2026 cyclospora outbreak was declared over in September, with CDC and FDA attributing 12,883 illnesses, 570 hospitalizations and two deaths in 21 states to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico; CDC’s broader season count recorded 19,883 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases. FDA closed its investigation after detecting the parasite in wastewater at the processing plant and a drainage ditch at a grower, while saying it was still assessing how those samples relate to patient specimens. Michigan reported more than 14,000 illnesses, 366 hospitalizations and two deaths. Researchers say consumer concern spread beyond implicated lettuce, reducing demand and prices for a range of produce, including a nearly 30% drop in raspberry sales early in the outbreak, though some local markets benefited. MSU researchers urged stronger coordination with health providers for timely stool testing and traceability, and highlighted wastewater monitoring as a tool for detecting future outbreaks.