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Buncombe County public health urges produce hygiene amid Cyclospora rise; 4 local cases reported
Summary
Public health staff briefed commissioners on rising Cyclospora cases nationally and in North Carolina, reported Buncombe County had four confirmed cases with no hospitalizations or deaths as of a midday update, and advised washing produce, cooking when practical and avoiding recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce.
A Buncombe County public health official updated commissioners on Cyclospora, describing national case counts, state trends and local surveillance activities and offering clear public guidance.
The official said federal and state partners are investigating multiple multistate clusters and that North Carolina has reported an increase in cases; locally, the presenter said Buncombe County was reporting four confirmed cases with zero hospitalizations and zero deaths as of today's noon update. The presenter emphasized that Cyclospora symptoms typically begin about one week after exposure and that infections can be difficult to link to a single food item.
As immediate precautions the health official urged thorough produce washing, removal of outer leaves on leafy greens and cooking produce when practical, and added: "Do not eat iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms at this time," referencing a voluntary recall and ongoing federal investigations. The county said its communicable disease team is conducting enhanced surveillance, interviewing cases to identify food exposures, and coordinating with state and federal partners on testing and guidance.
