What Washingtonians should know about the Cyclospora outbreak
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So far, Washington state and King County aren't part of the multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, which has sickened more than 1,600 people around the country.
- The illness can cause symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and watery or explosive diarrhea.
The latest: Last week, federal officials linked the outbreak to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell stores in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
- Supplier Taylor Farms de Mexico has since voluntarily recalled several iceberg lettuce products distributed in more than two dozen states.
- But the FDA now says a lettuce sample from Taylor Farms that was re-reviewed produced a false positive for cyclospora, NBC reports.
What they're saying: "At this time, we are not seeing a suspected food source or signs of an outbreak in Washington," Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for the state Department of Health, told Axios on Friday.
Between the lines: Although cases are up slightly in Washington this year, that could be partly due to increased awareness of the illness and more frequent testing, Johnson said.
- Between May 1 and July 16, the state recorded 33 cyclosporiasis infections, with 26 of those cases linked to international travel (mainly to Mexico).
- Last year, the state had 25 cases over the same period.
What's next: Officials are still investigating three cases in people who were likely exposed in Washington to see whether they share a common food source.
In the meantime, you should wash your hands and practice basic food safety, the state health department says.
If you want to be extra careful, cooking fresh produce to 158°F kills Cyclospora, the parasite that causes the illness.
- You could also choose fruits and vegetables with outer leaves that can be removed before eating.
- For people with weakened immune systems, King County officials said it's reasonable to avoid foods previously linked to Cyclospora, including "bagged salads, raspberries and packaged fresh herbs."
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information about the Taylor Farms voluntary recall and the FDA's announcement of a false positive.