Diarrhea-causing-illness cases rise in Mid-Missouri as cause remains unclear
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Cases of cyclosporiasis, a diarrhea-causing foodborne illness, are on the rise in Missouri, with cases in Mid-Missouri increasing over the weekend, and the cause of the outbreak is still unknown.
The Columbia/Boone County Health Department reported 37 cases of cyclosporiasis as of Monday, which is seven more since Friday.
The Cole County Health Department reported five cases of the parasite Monday, after choosing not to provide the case counts Thursday because it was smaller and releasing that information could identify the sick person.
Statewide cases have increased fivefold over the past week. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports 216 cases total for 2026 after reporting just 43 cases as of last week.
DHSS epidemiologist Nathan Koffarnus said cases could continue to rise because symptoms, on average, take a week to come on. He also said people are getting tested more often for cyclosporiasis because it's being talked about so often.
Health officials are still investigating the cause after the FDA issued a "false positive" statement on Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce Sunday.
Taylor Farms also issued a statement, saying the FDA apologized for the confusion. Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce products.
Koffarnus said that the recall is still in effect and people should avoid eating those products. He added that the FDA is still investigating Taylor Farms as the possible contaminant.
"These are very targeted investigations, and so they would not have been at that producer in the first place if there wasn't some really solid epidemiological data that kind of pointed them in that direction," Koffarnus said.
The University of Missouri said last week that it has pulled iceberg lettuce from its dining halls in response to a recall.
The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri spokesperson, Katie Adkins, said the food bank's supply was spared from any known voluntary recalls, but partner agencies could have some items.
"We've asked our partner agencies to review their inventories and let us know if they have any affected Taylor Farms products," Adkins wrote in an email to ABC 17 News.
Walmart also took four bagged lettuce bags branded as Marketside off shelves in 27 states, including Missouri, according to a statement from the company.
"Although there is no indication that products sold in our stores are affected by the current Cyclospora investigations," spokesperson Rachel Simmons said in an email. "There have been no confirmed illnesses associated with these products at this time. We are working closely with our supplier and took immediate steps to remove the products from sale."
