Honeymoon Turned Hospital Stay: Newlywed Contracts Cyclosporiasis Tied to Shredded Lettuce

Gretchen Pleuss, a newlywed from Wisconsin, says her Yellowstone National Park honeymoon was interrupted when she became seriously ill and required emergency care after testing positive for cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal infection. Pleuss believes the illness came from shredded lettuce in a sandwich eaten during the trip.

What Happened

Pleuss and her husband were camping in the park when she began feeling unwell a few days into their trip. She described sudden, severe gastrointestinal symptoms that led her to a nearby emergency room, where tests confirmed cyclosporiasis.

"I felt fine until we got out here, and a couple days into camping in the badlands, I started having symptoms… It was just like incessant diarrhea," Pleuss said. "It feels like your intestines are really tight, like something is seizing them."

Despite the ordeal, Pleuss says the couple is trying to make the best of their honeymoon. "It's still our honeymoon, so we're making the best of it," she said. "Our vows said in sickness and in health, so we're just getting an early start on that."

Yellowstone National ParkCredit: iStockphoto/Getty

Outbreak and Ongoing Investigation

Public health authorities in the United States are investigating a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 1,644 confirmed cases across five states and 94 known hospitalizations. The CDC is also monitoring more than 5,100 additional possible cases that require further testing to determine whether they are domestically acquired cyclosporiasis.

Product Recall and Restaurant Response

Investigators have linked the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce. Taylor Farms — a produce company that supplies retailers and restaurants in the U.S. — has voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The company said an FDA traceback pointed to a single independent farm as a potential source; that supplier represents less than 1% of the U.S. iceberg lettuce supply, but Taylor Farms said it removed all iceberg lettuce from the region from the U.S. market indefinitely as a precaution.

The CDC also identified lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants as one source tied to the outbreak. Taco Bell announced it had removed the affected Taylor Farms lettuce from its restaurants and removed the ingredient from its supply chain nationwide as of July 17.

Shredded lettuce (stock image)Credit: iStockphoto/Getty

Symptoms and Advice

Cyclosporiasis typically causes watery — sometimes described as "explosive" — diarrhea, severe abdominal cramps, fatigue and loss of appetite. Symptoms usually appear about one week after exposure. If you suspect cyclosporiasis, seek medical care: clinicians typically diagnose the infection through laboratory testing of stool samples. The standard treatment for cyclosporiasis is the antibiotic combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX); clinicians will advise on the appropriate treatment and rehydration measures.

People who are immunocompromised, elderly, very young or pregnant should seek prompt medical attention if they develop symptoms. Public health officials continue to investigate and advise consumers to follow recalls and guidance from the CDC, FDA and local health departments.

Bottom line: A honeymoon turned hospital stay highlights a broader multistate outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce. Authorities are investigating, recalls are in effect, and anyone with gastrointestinal symptoms after eating suspect produce should consult a health professional.