Also Read: Lettuce at Taco Bell in 5 states confirmed as a source of diarrhea-causing parasite
The Food and Drug Administration has not yet identified which products are linked to the illnesses. Officials also have not said where the cases are located.”This is an active investigation, and officials are working together to determine the specific cause of illnesses in this cluster,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in an email Thursday.
Also Read: Nearly 7,000 Cyclospora cases reported across US: All about the ‘explosive diarrhoea’ parasite
Federal officials earlier this week said they remained focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms as the source of a separate, multistate outbreak. The company last week announced it was recalling iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human faeces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Also Read: Flesh-eating parasite New World screwworm detected in Texas: USDA confirms
Federal and state health authorities have been investigating separate clusters of cyclospora illnesses, including the one traced to Taylor Farms.
Food safety tips include washing hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before handling food. Experts say cooking can kill the parasite and advise cooking produce to a temperature of at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius).
