Michigan reported over 400 new cyclosporiasis cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 6,571 since June 21 — far above the state’s typical 50 cases per year. Other Midwest and Northeast states have also recorded hundreds of cases each.

Initial investigative work pointed to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell restaurants. The chain voluntarily removed the lettuce nationwide, and foot traffic fell nearly 19 % on Friday. The FDA later said a test detecting cyclospora on that lettuce was a “false positive,” though epidemiological signals still strongly suggest lettuce or salad greens as the vehicle. Some patients report no lettuce or fast‑food exposure, raising the possibility of two concurrent outbreaks.

Taylor Farms continues its recall of iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico and will not source from the region for the rest of the season. Experts note cyclospora is notoriously difficult to identify in labs, so investigations often rely on 45‑minute patient interviews. Michigan’s chief medical executive Natasha Bagdasarian said CDC funding cuts that removed over 100 public‑health staff have “absolutely” slowed the probe, calling the outbreak a “canary in the coal mine” for a strained system. No deaths have been reported, but hundreds have been hospitalized with prolonged gastrointestinal distress.