US measles cases reach 35-year high, as massive cyclosporiasis outbreak spreads

A widespread cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to expand across the United States, now affecting nine states in total. Federal health officials have recently linked Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania to the ongoing investigation. These newly identified states join Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, as authorities work to track the spread of the parasitic illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have traced this particular outbreak primarily to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce. This lettuce was sourced from central Mexico and served at Taco Bell restaurants. In response, Taylor Farms de Mexico issued a voluntary recall on July 17, 2026, for all iceberg lettuce originating from central Mexico, which had been distributed to at least 27 states.

The current outbreak is considered the largest known cyclosporiasis event in the nation, with at least 1,947 confirmed cases linked to this specific nine-state cluster, resulting in 98 hospitalizations but no reported deaths. Overall, domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases in 2026 are substantially higher than previous years, with Michigan reporting a significant number of illnesses.