The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that the largest multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis in U.S.history, linked to shredded iceberg lettuce, has expanded to nine states.

The outbreak, which began in mid-May, has now affected Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite, causes gastrointestinal illness with symptoms like severe diarrhea, though no deaths have been reported this year.The CDC attributes the outbreak to contaminated lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, a California-based company with a plant in central Mexico.The FDA is investigating the source, while Taylor Farms has issued a voluntary recall for lettuce from its Guanajuato facility.The earliest cases showed symptoms in mid-May, and the long incubation period suggests the contaminated crop was distributed weeks ago.

Despite Mexican health authorities testing lettuce and water from the facility negative for cyclospora, the FDA maintains Taylor Farms as the likely source.The outbreak has infected over 1,900 people in the nine states, with state reports indicating higher numbers.Critics have called for improved communication from Taylor Farms, which faced backlash for its unclear recall notice.The CDC continues to monitor the spread, emphasizing the need for containment amid staffing challenges and regulatory confusion.