Michigan's cyclosporiasis case total tops 5,000

Anne Snabes, The Detroit News on Jul 17, 2026

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The number of cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan topped 5,000 on Friday, a 16% increase over figures a day earlier.

The reporting of new cases follows Thursday's news that the outbreak of the parasitic illness has been traced to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell by Taylor Farms, a worldwide fresh food provider, according to a Washington Post report that cited anonymous sources familiar with the investigation.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported on Friday that there have been 5,002 cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that usually causes frequent, watery and explosive diarrhea, in the state since June 22, up from 4,312 on Thursday.

MDHHS said that as of Thursday, 102 people have reportedly been hospitalized.

How officials are responding

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Thursday update that officials are collecting different types of data to investigate an outbreak of Cyclosporainfections in five states.

The agency said data show that shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations is contaminated with Cyclospora and "is making people sick." The Food and Drug Administration is working to determine if this shredded iceberg lettuce went to other places, the CDC said.

The agency said the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services analyzed food exposure details from 190 of the cases who reported eating at Taco Bell and shared those findings with the CDC. "Ingredient-level analyses" on meals eaten by the people indicate that 90% of those interviewed reported eating iceberg lettuce, the CDC said.

The agency said the FDA's traceback investigation has identified a single supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by the Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill. Not all Taco Bell locations in these states received shredded iceberg lettuce from the same supplier, the CDC said.

"FDA is working with the supplier of iceberg lettuce to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market," the CDC said. "Taco Bell has committed to stop using any lettuce from the supplier identified by FDA's traceback investigation."

The CDC's update doesn't provide the supplier's name. The Washington Post's reporting suggests Taylor Farms supplied the lettuce to Taco Bell.

An Ohio man sickened by cyclosporiasis is suing a Taco Bell franchisee after the fast food chain was linked to the outbreak.

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