Cyclosporiasis outbreak reported in 41 states, CDC says

The CDC began tracking Cyclosporiasis in May. Since the first of the month, outbreaks have been reported in 41 states. 

There have been over 4,000 cases reported in the United States, and 308 people have been hospitalized. The outbreak has spread to nine additional states from the latest report, on July 20. 

Outbreaks in Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania have now been connected to cases in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Michigan, according to NBC News.

States are interviewing sick people when they seek treatment for Cyclosporiasis and report the data to the CDC. Patient interviews identified contaminated shredded lettuce at Taco Bell. Data showed that many of the people sick ate at Taco Bell in June. 

The CDC has confirmed 1,947 cases in those nine states. 

There are nearly 12,000 confirmed or suspected cases of the illness nationwide, according to the CDC and state health departments.

There have been 561 cases in North Carolina. Preliminary investigations now suggest that outbreaks in out state may be linked to cilantro. 

For the latest information, visit the Surveillance of Cyclosporiasis on the CDC's website.