Updates on the cyclosporiasis outbreak, Taco Bell lettuce, and cases – Federal health officials claim that lettuce sold at Taco Bell restaurants has been connected to an outbreak of a stomach-churning parasitic infection that has affected thousands of people nationwide.
People in 34 states have been afflicted by the gastrointestinal ailment, which can result in low-grade fever, nausea, cramping, bloating, and frequent, watery diarrhea or explosive bowel movements.
Since June 22, at least 102 individuals have been admitted to hospitals in Michigan, and the state’s health department recorded 4,312 instances on Thursday.
Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary at the White House, stated on Thursday that the “White House is constantly monitoring the situation.”
Leavitt responded, “not at all,” when asked if the FDA and CDC have “the resources necessary to make sure that Consumers are fully informed and protected from this illness during this time.” Conversely, experts have stated differently.
Is the outbreak connected to iceberg lettuce?
Shredded iceberg lettuce provided at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia has been connected to an epidemic by an investigation conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health officials.
The agencies said late on Thursday, July 16, that the FDA’s traceback inquiry had found a single Mexican source of iceberg lettuce used by these Taco Bell locations.
Health officials have contacted the FDA, CDC, and HHS for information, but they have not identified Taco Bell’s supplier.
Is a stool test necessary for diagnosis?
For testing and treatment, the CDC urges those who think they may be infected to consult a physician.
“A doctor won’t know how to treat it unless you get a stool test, specifically a GI pathogen panel, and the results are positive. Without the test, it can be mistaken for bacterial or viral diarrhea, according to Dr. Anil Sharma, an associate professor in the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition.
Craig Hedberg, a professor with the University of Minnesota’s Division of Environmental Health Sciences, stated during a media briefing on Thursday that the majority of cyclospora cases are being diagnosed using culture-independent diagnostic testing, which are PCR-based panels that can screen for roughly 20 different pathogens at once.Compared to ten years ago, these panels are employed far more frequently now. Thus, compared to earlier times, we are far more capable of identifying these infections at the clinical level,” he continued.
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