Erie County Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Concludes with 242 Cases, Questions Remain on High Local Incidence
Erie County has officially concluded its largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in history, reporting 242 cases, with 12 individuals requiring hospitalization. The last new case was identified on August 21, with most exposures occurring before the July 17 recall of Taylor Farms bagged lettuce, which was linked to the outbreak. This particular lettuce was sold in stores and served at Taco Bell restaurants. While the Erie County Department of Health reported 242 cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Health listed only 103 for Erie County. This discrepancy arises because the state follows the CDC's definition, which requires a more extensive case investigation after lab confirmation, whereas the county reports all lab-confirmed cases in near real-time. Despite the differing counts, Erie County still accounts for 23% of Pennsylvania's total 446 cases, prompting health officials to investigate why the region experienced such a disproportionately high number of infections. Possible factors include heightened local test...
