Lettuce or salad greens could be source of diarrhea-causing illness, Michigan health officials say

BREAKING NEWSJul. 13, 2026, 11:25 PM UTCHealth newsHealth newsLettuce or salad greens could be source of diarrhea-causing illness, Michigan health officials sayThe foodborne gastrointestinal illness has shown up in 31 states, and federal health officials say 86 people have been hospitalized.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00A photomicrograph of a fresh stool sample, which had been prepared using a 10% formalin solution, and stained with modified acid-fast stain, revealed the presence of four Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts in the field of view.CDCShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Dennis RomeroLettuce or salad greens could be the source of Michigan’s outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an infection characterized by intense diarrhea, state health officials said Monday.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, said in a statement.There’s not enough information to pinpoint the type of produce, the grower or the supplier, and other food items cannot be ruled out, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said in the same statement.The finding only applies to Michigan, which has seen the lion’s share of cases so far: 2,640. Total cases number near 3,000 for the foodborne gastrointestinal illness that has shown up in 31 states as part of a national outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The CDC said 86 people have been hospitalized. The numbers often lag behind, however, as it can take a week for symptoms to appear, health experts say.The parasitic illness can cause flu-like symptoms, including severe fatigue and body aches, and evolve with watery diarrhea that’s sometimes uncontrollable. People may also have unusually bad gas, stomach cramps and nausea. One of the most serious issues can be dehydration...