Missouri health officials say cyclosporiasis cases are slowing

By: Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -- This week, the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services reports more than 1,500 cases of the diarrhea-inducing illness.

However, the influx of cases appears to be slowing down.

"We continue to add cases daily, but the rate at which they're being added has noticeably slowed down this week," DHSS epidemiologist Nathan Koffarnus said. "So, [I'm] hopeful that we're nearing an endpoint with the cyclosporiasis outbreak. We still have a little ways to go."

DHSS reported 1,577 cases of cyclosporiasis, and Missouri started with 43 cases in July, when the outbreak was first reported. Health officials were confident that those cases were from travel.

The total reported cases by date were as followed:

• July 13: 43
• July 20: 246
• July 27: 593
• Aug. 6: 1,095
• Aug. 10: 1,577

Those numbers come from previous reporting using the state's data.

The CDC has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce, and Taylor Farms recalled its lettuce from grocery stores and restaurants. According to the CDC, lettuce in the grocery store is past the best-by dates related to the recalled products.

Koffarnus said eating lettuce from grocery stores or Taco Bell is still up to the individual.

"Steps have definitely been taken to pull any of that product that was implicated out of the market," Koffarnus said. "Everybody has to choose for themselves how much caution they feel they need to take at this place."

As cyclosporiasis cases slow down, salmonella cases connected to an outbreak associated with jalapeños used in Taylor Farms products and produced by Coast Citrus Distributors are rising nationally.

DHSS reports 539 cases of salmonella in Missouri. In 2025, the state had 1,172 cases, which a DHSS spokesperson said is likely because the current year isn't over yet.

Still, the 2026 caseload doesn't compare to the number of cyclosporiasis cases in the state.

"It's not a small number, but it's not an unusual number, I guess I would say," Koffarnus said. "We're not seeing massive validation like we are with cyclospora."

Two Taylor Farms products containing jalapeños have been recalled from stores at Kroger and Gerbs in Missouri. Those recalls include Spicy Jarlsberg Dip and Spicy Pimento Cheese Dip with best-by dates from Aug. 7-15