Total number of cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan surpasses 12,000

Anne Snabes, The Detroit News on Aug 5, 2026

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DETROIT — Cyclosporiasis cases continue to rise in Michigan, with cases now up to 12,218 as of Wednesday, an 8.8% increase over Monday's case count.

The new cases come as the outbreak of the parasitic illness that causes explosive diarrhea has widened nationally from nine states to 15. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added six more states to the outbreak, which has been traced to tainted shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico.

The outbreak, which started in late June, has been linked to the deaths of two people in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Monday said the two people who died had "significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration."

The outbreak is the largest outbreak ever of cyclosporiasis in Michigan. Several federal lawsuits have been filed against Taco Bell related to the outbreak.

State officials said the two people who died became ill prior to the voluntary recall by Taylor Farms of iceberg lettuce announced by the FDA on July 17.

Michigan has been the hardest hit by the outbreak. The FDA said the outbreak also includes cases in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Carolina have been added to the outbreak.

The CDC said it's also investigating other outbreaks and illnesses of cyclosporiasis nationally that are unrelated to the multistate outbreak.

Michigan continues to add new cases daily but not at the level it once was, suggesting cases are tapering off. Daily case totals hit a peak of 726 cases on July 13, according to data posted online.

More than 70 counties in Michigan have reported cases, with the highest numbers in Wayne County, which had 1,625 cases as of last week; Oakland County with 1,043 cases; Washtenaw County with 875 cases; and Ingham County with 810 cases.

As of last Thursday, 193 people had reportedly been hospitalized, according to MDHHS.

State health officials said cyclosporiasis, which usually causes frequent, watery and explosive diarrhea, is generally not a life-threatening illness.

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