US authorities declare end to Cyclospora outbreak

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday that a Cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce has ended.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will continue investigating infections associated with iceberg lettuce imported from central Mexico and recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico.

The CDC said there is no longer a known risk of illness from the outbreak, and all affected lettuce is believed to have been removed from the market, according to CBS News.

The FDA said its investigation will continue in cooperation with federal, state and international partners. The agency said it will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.

Nearly 13,000 Cyclospora infections across 21 states were linked to the lettuce outbreak, contributing significantly to an unusually large rise in cases nationwide this year. More than 570 people were hospitalized and two people died, according to federal health agencies.

Since May 1, nearly 20,000 laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora cases have been reported across the US, more than 16 times the number recorded during the same period last year. Another 6,100 suspected cases were also reported.

Michigan was the hardest-hit state, reporting the highest number of cases as well as both deaths linked to the outbreak.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the digestive system. It can cause cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness characterized by watery diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by frequent and severe bowel movements, according to the CDC.