Federal health officials have opened an investigation into a new outbreak of cyclospora linked to an unspecified product, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA said Thursday that the specific source of the outbreak has not yet been identified. An agency spokesperson told CBS News that officials have initiated a traceback investigation to track the movement of potentially contaminated products back through the supply chain.
“This is an active investigation,” the spokesperson said. “We will provide updates as they become available.”
The announcement marks the latest in a series of federal cyclospora investigations. A separate ongoing outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms has been connected to thousands of illnesses across several states, including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. In response to that investigation, Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall for all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.
Additionally, the FDA reported that another active cyclospora outbreak has caused at least 10 cases, while a third outbreak has concluded but remains under active investigation.
According to health officials, cyclospora is a microscopic parasite transmitted through contaminated food or water. It causes a gastrointestinal infection known as cyclosporiasis, which leads to symptoms including severe diarrhea. While cooking food kills the parasite, standard washing of fruits and vegetables does not reliably remove it.
Since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has logged 1,645 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide, resulting in 141 hospitalizations. The CDC noted that it is currently reviewing more than 5,100 additional reported cases to confirm whether they are linked to the parasite.
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