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The CDC posted a significant update to its cyclosporiasis outbreak investigation on August 13, and the headline number is a big one: 9,481 confirmed illnesses across 17 states, up from 6,358 cases in 15 states in the August 5 update. Maine and Massachusetts joined the list. At least 398 people have been hospitalized, and two deaths have been confirmed in Michigan. You can read the full investigation notice on the CDC's outbreak page.
That's a jump of more than 3,000 cases in about a week. If that sounds alarming, keep reading — the details matter more than the total.
The contaminated product — iceberg lettuce processed by Taylor Farms de Mexico, served at Taco Bell locations and sold under the Marketside brand at Walmart — was recalled on July 17. The CDC notes that the best-by dates on all recalled product have now passed, so it should no longer be in any store or restaurant.
So why do the numbers keep climbing? Two reasons:
In other words, the growing count mostly reflects old exposures catching up with the paperwork — not an ongoing source of new infections. That's genuinely good news, even if the chart looks scary.
This part is worth repeating in every one of these updates: cyclosporiasis does not reliably go away on its own. Untreated, it's notorious for relapsing — you feel better for a few days, then the watery diarrhea, cramping, and fatigue come roaring back, sometimes for weeks.
If you've had diarrhea lasting more than a few days — especially with appetite loss, weight loss, or profound tiredness — see a doctor. Diagnosis requires a stool test that specifically looks for Cyclospora (it's not on every standard panel, so mention the outbreak), and treatment requires a prescription antibiotic. There is no over-the-counter product, from us or anyone else, that treats this infection.
Here's what we hear from readers week after week: the infection finally clears, and then they realize weeks of relentless diarrhea have left them with a painful, swollen hemorrhoid flare-up.
It makes sense. Prolonged diarrhea is one of the classic hemorrhoid aggravators — repeated urgent bathroom trips, straining, and a dozen wipes a day all put pressure and friction on the veins and tissue around the anus. By the time your gut settles, that tissue is often inflamed, itchy, and sore.
If that's where you are, a simple routine helps most people feel meaningfully better while things heal:
Raw, irritated skin doesn't need more friction. Switch to gentle blotting with a cleansing product designed for the area — something like our Hygienic Cleansing Lotion lets you clean thoroughly without scrubbing.
A warm sitz bath — 15 to 20 minutes in a few inches of warm water — relaxes the area, eases spasm, and simply feels good on inflamed tissue. Adding a mineral soak like our Sitz Bath Soak makes it feel less like a chore.
For temporary relief of hemorrhoid pain, burning, and itching, a cream with real numbing power makes a difference. Our Advanced Hemorrhoid Cream combines 5% lidocaine with phenylephrine, and our 5% Lidocaine Numbing Cream is a straightforward option when numbing is the priority. These relieve hemorrhoid symptoms temporarily — they don't treat the infection or heal the underlying tissue, and they're not meant to.
As your appetite returns, reintroduce fiber gradually and drink more water than you think you need. Soft, easy-to-pass stools are what let irritated tissue finally recover.
See a doctor about the hemorrhoid side of things if you have significant bleeding, a hard and intensely painful lump (possible thrombosed hemorrhoid), or pain that isn't improving after a week of consistent home care. And any rectal bleeding deserves a professional look the first time it happens — don't assume.
We'll keep following the CDC's updates until this outbreak is formally closed out.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition.
