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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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President Donald Trump laughed off a question about the ongoing cyclospora outbreak that was asked by Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy on Friday.
It was the president's first public response to the outbreak that has sickened at least 4,173 people, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 308 hospitalized. Thousands more cases are under review by the CDC.
State officials report case numbers that are much higher, because many states include both confirmed and probable cases. For example, Michigan, the hardest hit state, has reported 8,176 cases.
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Federal investigators have traced many cases to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico, though health officials continue investigating additional illnesses and whether other contaminated products may have contributed to the outbreak.
The parasite, which causes severe gastrointestinal illness, has historically been associated with fresh produce, and experts say outbreaks can take weeks or months to fully unravel because symptoms often do not appear immediately after exposure.
The White House previously said it has a handle on the outbreak, but Trump had not spoken about it until Friday.
"There's this nasty parasite that's giving people in nine states explosive diarrhea. When is it going to be safe to eat lettuce again?" Doocy asked.
"I don't know, I haven't thought about it. This is the first time I've been asked that question. Are you eating lettuce recently?" Trump said, his response met with several laughs before he added that "nobody wants to ask that question."
The Latest on the Cyclospora Outbreak in the US
Federal investigators say the largest known cyclospora outbreak of 2026 is now linked to nine states after Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania were added to an outbreak cluster previously tied to Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Investigators have traced shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in those states to Taylor Farms de Mexico, although officials are still examining whether additional states and illnesses should be included in the outbreak.
On July 17, Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and removed those products from the U.S. market after the FDA's traceback investigation pointed to the company's lettuce as the likely source of the multistate outbreak. The recall included products sold through retailers and food service distributors, and Taco Bell stopped using the implicated lettuce supply.
The investigation became more complicated days later when the FDA announced that a laboratory finding showing cyclospora in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce was actually a false positive. Taylor Farms said the agency apologized for the error and stressed that no product sample has produced a confirmed positive cyclospora result.
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However, FDA officials subsequently emphasized that the mistaken test result did not change the overall findings of their investigation, saying traceback and epidemiological evidence still converge on shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico as the likely source of the nine-state outbreak.
The lettuce-linked cluster is only one part of a much larger surge in cyclospora cases reported across the United States this year. Federal and state health officials have identified multiple outbreak clusters, with some investigations now closed while others remain active. Investigators have not identified a definitive source for several other cyclospora outbreaks reported this summer, leaving questions about how additional infections may have occurred.
What Is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis, that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis. People typically become infected after consuming contaminated food or water, often fresh produce, and symptoms usually begin about a week later.
The illness is best known for causing watery, explosive diarrhea, but it can also trigger stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. While cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening, symptoms can last for weeks or even recur if left untreated, making outbreaks particularly disruptive. In the United States, past outbreaks have frequently been linked to fresh fruits and vegetables that became contaminated before reaching consumers.
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How To Treat Cyclospora
Cyclospora infection is typically treated with a prescription antibiotic called trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), which is considered the standard treatment for cyclosporiasis. Patients are also advised to stay hydrated and replace fluids lost through diarrhea, as symptoms can persist for weeks or even recur if left untreated. Most people recover fully with appropriate treatment, although severe or prolonged cases may require additional medical care, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. Anyone experiencing persistent diarrhea, dehydration, or other symptoms consistent with cyclospora infection should contact a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
Check out Newsweek's latest coverage:
- Taylor Farms Says FDA Has Apologized Over ‘False Positive’ Cyclospora Test
- Cyclospora Patient Reveals What Symptoms are Really Like as Outbreak Spreads
- Which Salad Greens Are Safe From Cyclospora Parasite? List of Companies, Where to Buy
- What Kills Cyclospora? Food Safety Tips Amid Explosive Diarrhea Outbreaks
- Medicine To Treat ‘Explosive’ Diarrhea Outbreaks Could Cause More Diarrhea
- Cyclospora Isn’t the Only Parasite in Fresh Produce—Experts Warn of Others
- How Long Does Cyclospora Incubate? Symptoms To Watch For, How to Treat It
- Where Does Cyclospora Parasite Come From? How to Protect Yourself
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon, Dave Siminoff, Sam Wilson.
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