Two people have died in Michigan as a result of the cyclospora outbreak affecting the United States, as confirmed by state health authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These are the first deaths linked to this parasite in the history of cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the country.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) specified that both victims had preexisting medical conditions that may have been exacerbated by the infection and dehydration.
"According to medical records, both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been affected by cyclosporiasis and dehydration. No further information will be provided regarding these two cases," the department stated in a release.
The Michigan Department of Health emphasized that cyclospora infection "is generally not a potentially fatal disease," making these two deaths an unprecedented occurrence.
The CDC, for its part, limited itself to reporting that "they are aware of two deaths related to cyclosporiasis in individuals with underlying health conditions in Michigan as part of this outbreak."
An unprecedented outbreak in scale
Michigan is the epicenter of the largest cyclospora outbreak recorded in U.S. history, with 11,234 cases and 193 hospitalizations at the time the fatalities were confirmed.
Nationwide, the CDC identified over 18,000 domestic cases during the 2026 season: 6,707 confirmed and approximately 11,500 under laboratory analysis.
The multistate outbreak primarily affects nine states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.
Although Florida is not among the nine states where the disease has been reported, recently it was reported that the number of patients had tripled.
In the outbreak of 2018, linked to McDonald's salads, there were no reported deaths despite reaching 511 confirmed cases across 15 states.
The lettuce from Taylor Farms, at the source
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified the probable source of the outbreak as shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, processed in Guanajuato, Mexico, and distributed across 27 states between June 29 and July 16.
The company initiated a voluntary and indefinite withdrawal of the product.
The MDHHS specified that the two deceased became ill before the voluntary withdrawal of the lettuce announced by the FDA.
The chain Taco Bell was one of the first identified hotspots: 1,947 infected people reported having eaten at its restaurants, with at least 98 hospitalizations.
Visits to Taco Bell dropped by almost 31% on the day of the recall, and lettuce sales in supermarkets decreased by around 11%.
Who is at greater risk and how can one protect themselves?
Cyclicporyasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which is transmitted through the consumption of fresh food or water contaminated with human feces and is not spread from person to person.
Its symptoms—intense watery diarrhea, cramps, nausea, fatigue, and mild fever—appear between two and 14 days after exposure.
Dr. Fabián Sandoval, president of Emerson Clinic, explained in an interview with Univision who are the most vulnerable.
"The greatest risks are the children, the little ones who are not staying well hydrated... and the elderly, who have a more weakened immune system," she explained.
The specialist also raised questions about the causes of the deaths. "I wonder if we are already seeing something related to antibiotic resistance, or if patients are not arriving at emergency care more quickly," he noted.
The parasite is not eliminated by common disinfectants; only cooking destroys it.
Authorities recommend that anyone experiencing persistent diarrhea for more than four or five days without improvement should go to the emergency room to undergo a stool test.
The outbreak remains active, and the CDC warned that they expect the case count to continue rising as data comes in.
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