FDA reports new outbreak of explosive diarrhea with 72 cases identified

The Food and Drug Administration announced on Wednesday that it’s investigating yet another outbreak of Cyclospora, the unicellular foodborne parasite behind a nationwide surge in explosive watery diarrhea illnesses. The FDA said 72 cases have been identified in this outbreak, but the agency provided no details on the situation.

This announcement marks the sixth Cyclospora outbreak investigation the FDA has opened this year. Overall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has gotten reports of more than 11,500 cases (including 4,173 confirmed and over 7,400 probable) from 41 states. Among the cases, there have been 308 hospitalizations and no deaths.

This year’s tally so far—just in July—greatly exceeds the normal number of cases the US sees in a whole year. In recent years, the US has reported between 2,000 and 5,000 cases in a year, according to CDC data. With a new outbreak announced, the tally of cases is likely to continue climbing. Nevertheless, when asked about the national surge in cases earlier this week, anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the situation was “under control.”

Last week, the FDA and CDC announced that one of the previously identified outbreaks was linked to shredded iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico and distributed by Taylor Farms. Some of the lettuce was served at Taco Bell locations and linked cases had been identified in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Michigan alone has reported 7,664 cases and 106 hospitalizations as of July 23.