The Indiana Department of Health is investigating more than 300 cyclospora infections reported in the state as federal agencies have linked a multistate outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce sold to Taco Bell restaurants.
Scope of the outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the overall cluster has produced at least 1,644 lab-confirmed cases across five states, with 94 hospitalizations and no deaths reported. Officials say the outbreak began in mid-May and the parasite’s symptoms can take about a week to appear.
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Total cases (multistate) | 1,644 |
| Hospitalizations | 94 |
| Indiana cases reported | 300+ |
| Indiana cases linked to Taco Bell | 47 |
Health guidance and local impact
The CDC has advised people not to order items with shredded lettuce from Taco Bell while investigators work to determine the full scope of the contamination. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration traced the outbreak to iceberg lettuce from a supplier in Mexico that was sold to Taco Bell, according to federal release information.
“Maybe you do want to avoid lettuce, particularly from Taco Bell right now,”
The quote above is from Nicole Stone, an epidemiology director with the Indiana Department of Health, who told reporters the state has registered more than 300 cases and that only some are epidemiologically connected to the Taco Bell cluster. State investigators continue to interview patients to determine sources of exposure.
- Symptoms: diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss; illness may last days to more than a month.
- Onset: Symptoms typically begin about one week after infection.
- Food advice: Officials are not recommending broadly avoiding produce, but they advise caution with shredded lettuce from Taco Bell until links are clarified.
What this means for Hoosiers
Health officials say most people recover without long-term effects, but cyclospora infection can be prolonged and sometimes requires treatment with specific antibiotics. While the FDA’s traceback points to a supplier serving Taco Bell outlets, the state cautioned consumers that not every reported Indiana case is tied to the restaurant chain, and other locations or products could be involved.
Consumers who develop gastrointestinal symptoms should contact their health care provider, especially if symptoms persist. Clinicians testing for cyclospora can confirm infections with lab testing; federal counts cited by the CDC include only lab-confirmed cases and may understate the true number of illnesses.
State and federal agencies continue to investigate. Taco Bell issued voluntary product removal measures in response to preliminary findings, and the FDA and CDC said they will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Reporting for News Block.
