FDA Gives Important Update On Parasite Outbreak: What To Know In VA

Health officials have announced an end to the record-setting cyclospora parasite outbreak that sickened more than 240 in Virginia, as well as tens of thousands across the country.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials said Friday that they are confident that all recalled iceberg lettuce related to this specific outbreak is off the market.

This week, the Virginia Department of Health reported that the commonwealth had confirmed 242 cyclosporiasis cases in 2026. Of those cases, VDH said 144 were acquired domestically, 66 were acquired internationally, and 32 are pending further investigation.

Actual totals are likely much higher, as many cases go unreported and official counts lag behind laboratory-confirmed results.

Federal officials say nearly 13,000 reported cyclosporiasis cases were tied to the multistate outbreak. They represent the bulk of an unprecedented surge in this year's parasitic diarrheal illness. Since May 1, the government has received reports of nearly 20,000 lab-confirmed cases, or more than 16 times the number reported during the same period last year. More than 6,100 suspected cases also have been reported.

Several states declared outbreaks, including Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

Even with the outbreak deemed over, several questions remain, including its origin. The parasite is spread through human feces, and it still isn't clear how sewage could have contaminated enough food to sicken so many people.

"This contamination can happen if produce is grown in soil or comes into contact with water that has been contaminated," said Ellen Shumaker, director of outreach for a North Carolina State University food safety program, Safe Plates.

The worst previous year in the U.S. for infections was 2019, when about 4,700 illnesses were reported nationally.

This year's surge in cases was dominated by an outbreak in 21 states linked to iceberg lettuce. But thousands of other cases have not been linked to that outbreak.

Michigan was the hardest-hit state, with the most reported cases and the two U.S. deaths tied to the outbreak.

Cyclospora is a microscopic, spherical parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea "with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements," according to the CDC. Outbreaks most often occur in late spring and summer.

The illness, called cyclosporiasis, is less common than foodborne illnesses caused by other germs, including salmonella and E. coli. Many cases are never linked to a specific food or other source.

In this outbreak, investigators initially zeroed in on lettuce served at Taco Bell. Federal officials subsequently focused on Taylor Farms as the source of the lettuce, and the company recalled iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.

The Taylor Farms recall involved thousands of packaged salad products combining iceberg lettuce with other vegetables. The products were shipped to major U.S. restaurant chains, including Yum Brands, which owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC.

The FDA has ended its on-site inspections and sample collection at iceberg lettuce growers and the processing facility in Mexico, the agency said Friday. The FDA said samples from the on-site inspections are pending analysis.

The outbreak cast a spotlight on a worsening problem: U.S. regulators are conducting fewer international inspections to catch contaminated produce before it lands on American plates.

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.