Trucks are parked at a facility operated by fresh produce supplier Taylor Farms in Salinas, California, U.S., on the 17th of last month (local time). The company has reportedly been linked to a recent multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak. / AFP-Yonhap

Health authorities said on the 3rd (local time) that two people have died in Michigan amid a recent nationwide spread of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal illness — marking the first deaths linked to the large-scale outbreak.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services said that day that both individuals had serious underlying health conditions, and that their illness may have worsened due to cyclosporiasis and dehydration.

The department did not release further details, including the victims' identities. Health authorities noted that deaths from cyclosporiasis are extremely rare in the U.S.

The U.S. has recently been experiencing a large-scale outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite.

The main symptom is severe diarrhea that can last for weeks. Cases have been reported in more than 40 states, with a particularly high number of patients in Michigan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said as of recently that more than 6,700 cases have been confirmed through lab testing, with an additional 11,500 suspected cases. Typically, the U.S. sees only about 250 reported cases during this time of year.

The exact cause of the outbreak has not yet been clearly identified. Authorities have investigated multiple clusters separately but have not ruled out the possibility that they may be connected, though no clear link has been established so far.

The largest single cluster of illness in this outbreak has been linked to shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms, the largest fresh produce supplier in the U.S. The product was sold through numerous retailers, including fast food chain Taco Bell.

Taylor Farms announced on the 17th of last month that it was recalling all of the implicated iceberg lettuce, sourced from central Mexico, from the U.S. market. Taco Bell also pulled the product from its supply chain entirely that same day.

Food safety experts have advised that most fresh fruits and vegetables remain safe to eat.

                                                                                                              Kim Hyun-min