Michigan Confirms Two Deaths Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak

On Monday, Aug. 3, the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) reported two deaths linked to the state's ongoing Cyclospora outbreak. MDHHS said, according to medical records, "both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration." 

Also according to MDHHS, cyclosporiasis is not generally life-threatening and deaths resulting from cyclosporiasis in the United States are uncommon. 

Michigan and Ohio have reported the most Cyclospora cases during the current outbreak. Since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it has received 6,707 reports of laboratory-confirmed and domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis. The CDC also said it is aware of more than 11,500 that have not been laboratory confirmed and require further investigation and analysis. 

Michigan's Cyclospora case count has reached 11,234, with 193 reported hospitalizations, according to MDHHS. As of July 31, the Ohio Department of Health has reported 4,013 cases of Cyclospora. 

Forty-five state have reported domestically acquired Cyclospora cases, but nine states are included in an outbreak investigation linked to to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, served at Taco Bell locations and recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico. The investigation, led by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), includes Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

QA reported on an update from FDA on July 24, which confirmed a total of 1,947 Cyclospora infections and at least 98 hospitalizations tied to the iceberg lettuce. The agency said the illnesses reported in this outbreak are a subset of those being identified nationwide. This outbreak investigation is ongoing. 

Ohio Man Takes Legal Action Against Taco Bell Franchise 

Mohammed R. Ayyad, a North Olmstead, Ohio, resident, visited the Taco Bell establishment on Lorain Road in North Olmstead twice on June 14 and once on June 21, becoming infected with Cyclospora not too long after, according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on July 16 and multiple news outlets, including Cleveland.com, that cited the lawsuit. 

As reported by USA Today, the lawsuit names Pacific Bells LLC as the defendant, which is a Taco Bell franchisee that owns the North Olmstead location. The lawsuit, according to USA Today, said Ayyad was absent from work for about two weeks because of the illness and had persistent symptoms. Bill Marler, the managing partner of Marler Clark, is representing Ayyad.