The cyclosporiasis outbreak, a parasitic infection that can cause "explosive" diarrhea, is continuing to spread. Earlier this week, the first deaths from the infection were reported in Michigan, and the Food and Drug Administration has expanded the number of states included in the nationwide outbreak.
As of Aug. 4, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has laboratory-confirmed 10,468 cases, and the agency said it is aware of at least 12,000 more that are under further investigation. The data does not include probable cases, which could make the case count even higher.
Here's what to know about cyclosporiasis cases in Georgia.
Has lettuce been recalled in Georgia?
Yes, Georgia is among the states experiencing alettuce recall from the FDA.
Lettuce from Taylor Fresh Foods that
was dated between June 29th and July 16th have been recalled in Georgia, as well as Marketside-brand products sold at Walmart stores in the state.
Taco Bell has stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as of July 17, but Georgia locations were not specifically mentioned.
The total number of states included in the iceberg lettuce recall from Taylor Farms de Mexico jumped from nine to 15, as of Aug. 5, but does not yet include Georgia, according to the FDA. States included in the recall are Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
"This increase in cases is due, in part, to the inclusion of people who reported exposure to Taco Bell or recalled Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce and the identification and addition of six new states that are now linked to this outbreak," the FDA said. "We also expect to continue to see the number of confirmed cases rise, despite the recall, due to the fact that it can take as long as six weeks for CDC and state officials to determine if a sick person is part of this outbreak."
A full list of recalled products can be found here.
How many cyclosporiasis cases are there in Georgia?
As of Aug. 4, between 50 and 199 cases of cyclosporiasis have been confirmed in the state of Georgia.
This is relatively low compared to states like Michigan (more than 4,000 cases) and North Carolina (500 to 999 cases), but higher than states across the West. A total of 47 states in the U.S. have confirmed cyclosporiasis cases.
Out of the total laboratory-confirmed cases, only 1,341 were reported in people who had traveled out of the country and may have picked up the parasite somewhere else.
Across all cases the median age of those who became sick is 45, and there are slightly more women sick than men. The median onset of sickness, meaning the middle of when people started reporting symptoms, is July 4, according to the CDC.
Is lettuce safe to eat?
Only the lettuce contained in the recall or specified by the FDA has been deemed unsafe for consumption, meaning other brands of lettuce from other sources should be safe to eat.
Out of an abundance of caution, you can stick to cooked fruits and veggies as the parasite investigation continues.
What are cyclosporiasis symptoms?
According to the CDC, the following symptoms could be from cyclosporiasis. It's important to talk to a medical professional if you areexperiencing symptoms.
- Watery diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Body aches
- Headache
- Low-grade fever
- Other flu-like symptoms
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Explosive' diarrhea outbreak expands. What are cases like in Georgia?
