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The CDC updated its investigation of the multistate cyclospora outbreak on August 5, and the picture has changed a lot since early summer: 6,358 laboratory-confirmed illnesses across 15 states, at least 278 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths reported in Michigan. What started as a five-state story is now a much bigger one, and the questions readers send us have shifted from "what is cyclospora?" to far more practical concerns. Here are direct answers, based on the CDC's current data.
Investigators have linked the illnesses to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, grown in central Mexico. The lettuce was served at Taco Bell locations and sold in Marketside-brand products at Walmart. People got sick between June 22 and July 31, and the affected states now include Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. The full details are on the CDC's investigation page, which the agency continues to update.
The recalled product was removed from the market on July 17. Even so, the CDC still advises people in affected states not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, and to throw out or return any recalled product they find at home. If you have bagged lettuce in the fridge and can't confirm where it came from, tossing it is the safer call.
Two reasons. Cyclospora symptoms can take a week or more to appear after eating contaminated food, and confirming a case through testing and reporting can take up to six weeks. So the new numbers largely reflect illnesses that began weeks ago. The CDC also notes the true count is likely higher than 6,358, because many people recover without ever getting tested.
You can't know from symptoms alone. The pattern that should raise suspicion is watery diarrhea that drags on or keeps coming back — often with appetite loss, weight loss, cramping, bloating, and deep fatigue. Ordinary viral bugs usually resolve within a few days. Cyclosporiasis can grind on for weeks and famously relapses just when you think you've beaten it. The only way to confirm it is a stool test, and the infection is treated with a prescription antibiotic (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). It often does not clear reliably on its own, so if you've had diarrhea for more than three days — especially if you ate at Taco Bell or bought Marketside lettuce in an affected state this summer — call your doctor and ask about testing.
Because weeks of diarrhea is one of the fastest ways to inflame hemorrhoids. Frequent watery stools, constant wiping, straining, and long stretches on the toilet irritate the veins around the anus. Many people riding out a prolonged GI illness develop swelling, itching, burning, or bleeding they've never had before — and that's the part we can actually help with.
The infection itself is your doctor's job. For the hemorrhoid symptoms that tag along, the playbook is simple. A warm sitz bath two or three times a day calms irritated tissue — a mineral soak like our Sitz Bath Soak makes it easy. Swap dry toilet paper for gentle cleansing with something like our Hygienic Cleansing Lotion, since repeated dry wiping is often what turns soreness into raw, broken skin. For temporary relief of pain, itching, and swelling, our Advanced Hemorrhoid Cream combines 5% lidocaine with phenylephrine; if pain is the dominant complaint, a straight 5% Lidocaine Numbing Cream is another option. To be clear: these products offer temporary relief of hemorrhoid symptoms only. They do nothing against the parasite, and they are not a substitute for seeing a doctor.
Get medical care promptly for signs of dehydration (dizziness, very dark urine, little urination), high fever, severe abdominal pain, or significant rectal bleeding — more than streaks on the paper. Bleeding is common with hemorrhoids, but it should always be evaluated at least once, because other conditions can cause it too.
The outbreak is still active in the CDC's books, the case count will likely keep inching up as older illnesses get confirmed, and the practical advice hasn't changed: skip suspect lettuce, see a doctor for diarrhea that won't quit, and be kind to the parts of you taking the punishment in the meantime. We'll keep watching the CDC's outbreak page and update you when the numbers move.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you're experiencing, and always follow your healthcare provider's guidance.
