Michigan lifts lettuce warning as state’s cyclosporiasis cases fall

The state health department said residents can resume buying bagged salads but should still avoid recalled lettuce.

Michigan health officials said Thursday that residents could return to their usual salad routine as cyclosporiasis cases in the state continue to fall.

Michigan has logged the most cases of the parasitic infection, which causes explosive diarrhea, as the illness has surged across the U.S. Michigan has reported 12,485 cases of cyclosporiasis since June, including 279 hospitalizations and two deaths.

Case reports, however, are slowing, officials said, “including a downward trend in diarrhea-related emergency department visits.”

On Thursday, Michigan’s health department said that the majority of people sickened were exposed in late June to early July, and that “the majority of contaminated produce is likely no longer available for consumption.”

Michigan residents no longer need to avoid bagged salads, the health department said Thursday, and could also return to their usual produce-handling practices.