Maryland Cyclospora Cases Nearly Double as Taco Bell Lettuce Linked to National Outbreak
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Maryland's cyclosporiasis cases nearly doubled in one week to 69, significantly exceeding typical seasonal patterns for this parasitic illness.
- National outbreak linked to Taco Bell's shredded lettuce supplier Taylor Farms, though other cases suggest contamination extends beyond single restaurant chain.
- Cook produce thoroughly or choose canned options; avoid bagged salads and raw lettuce to prevent infection during summer outbreak season.
Cases Surge Across Maryland
The Maryland Department of Health has confirmed 69 cases of cyclosporiasis so far this year — a striking jump from just a week earlier. Previous numbers released by the agency showed authorities had confirmed just 32 cases since the start of the year. That near-doubling in a single week has put state health officials on high alert as the summer outbreak season intensifies.
Health officials have confirmed 69 cases of cyclosporiasis in Maryland, 65 of which were documented between May 1 and July 14. Case counts typically climb during the spring and summer months, and health officials consider May 1 through August 31 to be the primary cyclosporiasis season, though infections can occur at any time of year and are sometimes linked to international travel.
The current numbers mark a notable shift from recent years. The state recorded 204 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases in 2024, including 19 during the same May 1 to July 7 window. In 2025, the department reported 128 lab-confirmed cases, with 18 falling in that same period — meaning this year's case count for that same window is already about 50 percent higher than either full year saw during that timeframe.
A Parasite With a Nasty Punch
Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic intestinal illness spread through contaminated food or water. Symptoms typically surface between one and 14 days after exposure — most commonly around one week — and the leading sign is watery diarrhea accompanied by frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements.
Symptoms may come and go and if untreated, the illness can last for a few days to a month or longer. Cyclosporiasis is typically not fatal or life-threatening, but some people with the infection are hospitalized for help managing symptoms. It can also be treated with combination antibiotics. The tricky part is that many people may not immediately connect their illness to something they ate days earlier.
The disease is hard to trace because there is a delay between the consumption of the parasite and symptoms. Usually symptoms appear 1 to 14 days after exposure. That lag time makes pinpointing a source — and stopping the spread — significantly more difficult for investigators.
Taco Bell and a National Crisis
Investigations are ongoing and, to date, Maryland's health departments have not identified a common link for cases reported in 2026 to present. But nationally, a clearer picture is beginning to emerge. Officials said on July 16 that shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell is behind at least some of the cases and hospitalizations recorded in recent months.
Investigators identified Taylor Farms as the supplier of the shredded iceberg lettuce linked to the outbreak at Taco Bell restaurants, according to two people familiar with the investigation. Earlier, the chain drew attention after issuing public notices announcing a nationwide recall of lettuce, cilantro, pico de gallo, and guacamole. However, other individuals who've become ill have not eaten at the food chain, suggesting the contamination may extend beyond a single restaurant brand.
Michigan alone has reported 4,312 cases and 102 hospitalizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cyclosporiasis has infected hundreds of people in at least 18 states, and health officials are still trying to pinpoint the source.
What You Can Do Right Now
Prevention tips include washing hands before and after handling produce, avoiding bagged salad mixes, removing several outer layers of leaves of lettuce before cutting, and cooking produce before consumption. Cooking, health officials say, will kill the parasite.
Frozen vegetables are largely safe from cyclospora because more commercial facilities wash and blanch them before they're packaged, but some items like raspberries can't be blanched ahead of freezing. Canned produce is considered the lowest-risk option during a cyclosporiasis outbreak because commercial canning relies on high heat to seal food.
With summer produce season in full swing and investigators still racing to confirm the full scope of contaminated sources, Maryland residents should expect this story to develop further in the weeks ahead. The state's case count nearly doubled in a single week — there is little reason to assume the climb has stopped.