On Friday the CDC added Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania to the Cyclospora outbreak traced to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, joining Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The official count is 1,947 people, 98 hospitalized, no deaths, with illness onsets running from June 22 through July 20. The Washington Post had the four new states before either agency posted them.
That is the number the government stands behind. Here is the number the states report.
Michigan reported 8,176 cases as of Friday, with 160 people hospitalized. Ohio is at 2,574 or 2,596 depending on which outlet you read, with at least 134 hospitalized — the Ohio Department of Health still has not posted the figure itself. Indiana is at 710. Illinois 513. Kentucky 468, up from 192 ten days earlier, the sharpest rise in the country last week. Kansas 289. West Virginia 226. Oklahoma 172. Pennsylvania 28.
Add the nine and you get roughly 13,150 — against a federal outbreak count of 1,947.
Pennsylvania’s 28 deserves a footnote. Cyclosporiasis is not a reportable condition there; physicians report voluntarily, a fact CDC prints on its own surveillance page. That number measures how many doctors chose to file, not how many Pennsylvanians got sick.
Outside the nine, New York has 632 cases since May and North Carolina 561. Missouri 216. Colorado 150. Florida 106. Virginia 79. Then Maryland 69, Texas 68, Wisconsin 61, Iowa 57, Nebraska 49, New Jersey 46, California 41, Minnesota 41, Connecticut 35, Washington 27, Arkansas 26, Arizona 19 and Massachusetts 18. Georgia and Tennessee publish a range of 11 to 30. Louisiana, New Hampshire and Utah publish 1 to 10. Alaska has 5 and Rhode Island 4.
Fifteen states publish no 2026 count at all: Alabama, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.
Add every state that publishes anything and the floor is about 15,500.
Subtract the outbreak from that and roughly 13,600 people have Cyclospora this season that no one has tied to Taylor Farms lettuce. About 11,200 of them are in the nine outbreak states themselves.
CDC does not hide the gap. Its surveillance page says its updates exclude probable cases, that state counts run higher as a result, and that it assumes a six-week lag between illness and report, so the numbers will keep climbing. Its outbreak page says it is also investigating other Cyclospora outbreaks nationally that are unrelated to this one. FDA’s tracker carries six Cyclospora investigations, four of them open.
Here is the nine-state outbreak, as the states themselves count it:
| State | Cases the state reports | As of | Hospitalized |
| Michigan | 8,176 | Jul 24 | 160 (Jul 23) |
| Ohio | at least 2,574 | Jul 24 | at least 134 |
| Indiana | 710 | Jul 24 | — |
| Illinois | 513 | Jul 24 | 31 (at 408 cases) |
| Kentucky | 468 | Jul 24 | 7 (at 192 cases) |
| Kansas | 289 | Jul 22 | 12 |
| West Virginia | 226 | Jul 24 | 15 |
| Oklahoma | 172 | Jul 21 | 12 |
| Pennsylvania | 28 (voluntary reporting) | Jul 16 | — |
| Nine-state total | ~13,150 | ||
| CDC outbreak count | 1,947 | Jul 24 | 98 |
FDA’s updated page finally splits the distribution into channels. Foodservice product went to 27 states between June 29 and July 16: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. Marketside-brand iceberg salad and shredded lettuce went to Walmart stores in fifteen: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Combined, the recall footprint is 28 states. West Virginia reaches the list only through the retail line — it was missing from the original distribution notice even while it was one of the five original outbreak states. Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania are the reverse: on the foodservice list, absent from the retail list. The two hardest-hit states in the country got this lettuce through distributors, not off a shelf. Consumer Reports made that point first, and it is the detail that has been hardest to pry loose.
Nineteen states received recalled product and are not part of the nine-state outbreak. Those nineteen report roughly 1,400 cases of Cyclospora with no confirmed link to the recall.
| State on the recall list | 2026 cases reported | Status |
| North Carolina | 561 | Statewide outbreak; state points to parsley and cilantro |
| Missouri | 216 | No link announced |
| Florida | 106 | No domestic/travel split published |
| Virginia | 79 | 38 domestic; state says no tie to the Midwest outbreak |
| Maryland | 69 | No link announced |
| Texas | 68 | All domestic; no link announced |
| Wisconsin | 61 | No link announced |
| Iowa | 57 | No link announced |
| New Jersey | 46 | No link announced |
| Connecticut | 35 | No link announced |
| Arkansas | 26 | No domestic/travel split published |
| Massachusetts | 18 | No link announced |
| Georgia | 11–30 | Range only |
| Tennessee | 11–30 | Range only |
| Louisiana | 1–10 | Range only |
| New Hampshire | 1–10 | Range only |
| Alabama | none published | Received recalled lettuce; publishes no count |
| Mississippi | none published | Received recalled lettuce; publishes no count |
| South Carolina | none published | Received recalled lettuce; publishes no count |
| Nineteen states | ~1,400 | None confirmed as part of the outbreak |
Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina received the recalled lettuce and publish no case count at all. Whatever is happening in those three states is not in any national total, including the 15,500.
North Carolina’s investigators are not looking at lettuce. Preliminary work there points toward parsley and cilantro, and the state’s public health veterinarian has said he expects multiple vehicles rather than a single product from a single company. CIDRAP and the Associated Press both note the same thing from the federal side: this recall is not expected to account for every illness.
FDA’s own page still carries the line that distribution is confirmed only for the states listed and that product may have gone further, reaching additional states.
The recall reached 28 states. The outbreak is defined as nine. The states report 15,500 sick. Those are three different maps of the same lettuce, and all three numbers are floors.
Cyclospora
Cyclospora is a parasite, not a bacterium, and it behaves like one—causing a prolonged, relapsing illness that can drag on for weeks. It is usually traced to fresh imported produce, and because it is hardy, ordinary washing does not reliably remove it. Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading firm representing victims of Cyclosporaoutbreaks. Our Cyclospora attorneys have represented victims in the only U.S. law practice devoted exclusively to foodborne illness, which has recovered more than $850 million for victims and families nationwide. We have litigated Cyclospora cases traced to basil, bagged salad, snap peas, and other fresh produce, including the large 2018 outbreaks linked to McDonald’s salads and Del Monte vegetable trays.
If you or a family member became ill with a Cyclospora infection after eating contaminated food, contact the Marler Clark Cyclospora attorneys for a free case evaluation.
FAQ
What is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, a prolonged, relapsing intestinal illness that can last for weeks. It usually spreads through fresh imported produce, and because it is hardy, ordinary washing does not reliably remove it.
What foods cause Cyclospora outbreaks?
Fresh produce is the usual source—basil, cilantro, bagged salad, snap peas, and pre-packaged vegetable trays have all been implicated, often when imported.
What are the symptoms of cyclosporiasis?
Watery diarrhea that comes and goes, fatigue, loss of appetite, cramping, and weight loss. Untreated, symptoms can persist or relapse for weeks.
How is it treated?
Cyclosporiasis usually requires a specific antibiotic—not the standard treatment for other diarrheal illnesses—so an accurate diagnosis matters. Ask your doctor about testing for parasites.
Can I sue for a Cyclospora infection?
If your illness is tied to a contaminated produce item or a recognized outbreak, you may have a product-liability claim against the grower, importer, or seller.
Additional Resources:
- About Cyclospora — a complete online resource on Cyclospora infection
Working with Marler Clark
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, represents victims of foodborne illness nationwide. Here are answers to the questions people ask us most often.
FAQ
How much does it cost to hire a food poisoning lawyer?
Marler Clark handles food poisoning cases on a contingency-fee basis. There is no charge for the initial consultation, and no attorney’s fees unless we obtain a recovery for you through a settlement or verdict. When your case concludes, you receive a full written accounting of all fees and expenses for your approval before any money is disbursed.
Do I have a food poisoning case?
The strongest cases share three things: a laboratory-confirmed infection, usually from a stool sample; a documented link between your illness and a specific food, restaurant, or product, often through a public health investigation or a genetic match to an outbreak strain; and real damages such as hospitalization, lasting injury, or lost income. A free case evaluation is the fastest way to learn where you stand.
How much is a food poisoning lawsuit worth?
Every case is different. Value depends on the severity and permanence of the injury, medical expenses, lost wages, and how strongly the illness can be tied to a contaminated food. Cases range from short, self-resolving illnesses to catastrophic injuries such as kidney failure or paralysis. We can offer a realistic assessment after reviewing your medical records and the outbreak evidence.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Statutes of limitation set the deadline for filing a lawsuit, and they vary by state and by the type of injury—sometimes as little as one year. Because evidence like receipts, leftover product, and medical samples can disappear quickly, it is best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
Does Marler Clark handle cases nationwide?
Yes. We represent clients across the country and have litigated food poisoning cases in more than 35 states. Claims are often referred to us by attorneys elsewhere, and we work with local counsel where needed, so you do not have to live in Washington to work with us.
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