The story

Michigan reported 9,253 cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 27, an increase of 1,077 from July 24, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The state has more cases than any other state in the summer of 2026 and typically sees around 50 cases per year. As of July 23, 160 Michigan residents have received hospital treatment. The outbreak came to the attention of state and local health officials in late June and was first identified by local officials in Monroe County. Nearly every county in the state has since seen at least one case, with Wayne, Ingham, Oakland, Monroe and Washtenaw among the hardest hit.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is working closely with FDA and state health authorities to investigate multiple clusters of cyclosporiasis. As of July 24, 41 states are reporting cases to the CDC. Between May 1 and July 21 of 2026, there have been 4,173 laboratory confirmed cases, and the CDC is aware of 7,400 additional reports that are under investigation. The FDA said the outbreak now includes cases from nine states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. A total of 1,947 people infected with the cyclospora parasite, with exposure to Taco Bell, have been reported by the nine states.

The FDA and CDC traced the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico, which distributed lettuce to 27 states through July 17. Taylor Farms has recalled the lettuce, and Taco Bell says they are no longer using it. U.S. Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made his first public comment about the outbreak on July 21, declaring it under control and denying that cutbacks to monitoring activities have hurt U.S. food safety. Cyclosporiasis can be contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with feces and causes diarrhea and nausea.