Aug 5 (Reuters) - U.S. health authorities have widened their probe into a cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico after detecting cases in six additional states, raising the total to 15 states, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The newly linked states are Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Carolina, the source said.
On July 24, an FDA investigation linked the multistate outbreak in nine states to iceberg lettuce served at Yum Brands'
Taco Bell restaurants and sourced from privately held Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico, but authorities are still looking for other potential sources.
Michigan health officials reported 12,218 cases linked to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis on Wednesday, an increase of 710 cases since its last update a day earlier.
The state has reported the first two deaths associated with the outbreak, saying both individuals had significant underlying health conditions.
It said the two Michigan cases became ill prior to the voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on July 17.
The outbreak in Michigan has resulted in 193 hospitalizations as of July 30, according to the state health department's latest update.
Cases of the intestinal infection caused by the cyclospora parasite, which can cause diarrhea, nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, have risen steadily across the United States in recent months, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nationwide, the CDC has received reports of 10,468 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis and is aware of more than 12,255 additional cases that are not laboratory-confirmed. The agency's surveillance lags state reporting by several weeks.
Consumers in the U.S. have been steering clear of some restaurant chains and buying less lettuce in grocery stores, as a multistate outbreak of a parasitic disease has fueled confusion over what is safe to eat.
Cyclosporiasis can be contracted by consuming food — typically raw fruits and vegetables — or water contaminated with feces.
(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole and Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Shinjini Ganguli)
