Reading Room
The reading room includes articles and videos of potential interest to consumers and medical professionals. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the NC Medical Board, its members, and staff. Note: Some links may require registration or subscription.
Reading Room Entries from October 2026
Strawberries in February: The Cyclospora outbreak and the cost of convenience
NC Health News
October 5, 2026
The largest cyclosporiasis outbreak on record in the U.S. this past summer sickened 12,883 people in 21 states, including North Carolina, before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared it over on Sept. 11.
The outbreak, which led to 570 hospitalizations and two deaths, was linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. The company recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17. The Food and Drug Administration’s investigation is ongoing.
In North Carolina, the picture is more complicated. The state Department of Health and Human Services has reported 955 cyclosporiasis cases and 32 hospitalizations since May, more than half in Wake County alone. That’s compared with the roughly 150 cases a year the state averaged over the past decade. NCDHHS says the increase does not appear tied to the national lettuce outbreak.
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