Gretchen Pleuss, a newlywed from Wisconsin, was hospitalized during her Yellowstone honeymoon after contracting Cyclospora and required antibiotic treatment. She suspects shredded iceberg lettuce as the source. The CDC has recorded 4,173 confirmed cases across 41 states with 308 hospitalizations, and more than 7,400 reports remain under investigation. Taylor Farms de Mexico has recalled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico and Taco Bell removed the supplier’s product; the FDA warns consumers to avoid the recalled lettuce.
Cyclospora Sends Wisconsin Bride to ER During Yellowstone Honeymoon; Outbreak Linked to Shredded Lettuce
Diarrhea parasite ruined newlyweds’ honeymoon after Cyclospora sent bride to the ER
A Wisconsin couple’s honeymoon took a frightening turn when bride Gretchen Pleuss developed a severe gastrointestinal illness that sent her to the emergency room while camping near Yellowstone National Park. Pleuss says she contracted Cyclospora, a parasite at the center of a large multistate outbreak, and believes shredded iceberg lettuce in a sandwich was the likely source.
Relentless Symptoms and Emergency Care
"It was just like incessant diarrhea, so just like watery and constant," Pleuss told WISN. She said symptoms began a few days into their trip near the Badlands and quickly became severe enough to require an ER visit. Doctors identified Cyclospora in her system and she was treated with antibiotics; for Cyclospora the recommended treatment is typically the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Pleuss later told The Independent she was "feeling much better" after completing her antibiotic course. She said it took about four days of treatment to begin feeling back to normal, though she experienced persistent bloating and low appetite and energy even after the diarrhea subsided. Despite the setback, the couple adjusted their plans—staying longer in towns and hotels—and eventually reached Glacier National Park, where Pleuss was able to hike and camp as planned.
Gretchen Pleuss of Wisconsin said she landed in the ER during her Yellowstone honeymoon after contracting Cyclospora (Gretchen Pleuss)
Outbreak Investigation and Public Health Advice
Since May 1, public health authorities have recorded 4,173 laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora cases across 41 states, and officials are investigating more than 7,400 additional reported infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The outbreak has resulted in 308 hospitalizations; no deaths have been reported.
Investigators have linked the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce. Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after the FDA traced illnesses to what the company said was a single farm that supplies less than 1 percent of the U.S. iceberg lettuce market. The recalled lettuce was distributed to Taco Bell restaurants associated with some of the illnesses; Taco Bell has removed the supplier’s lettuce from its locations.
The FDA continues to advise consumers not to eat the recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce, citing strong evidence that a separate batch is connected to the Cyclospora illnesses. That public warning remains in place even after a recent laboratory test that initially detected the parasite in one sample was later ruled a false positive.
What To Know About Cyclospora
Cyclospora infections typically cause watery diarrhea, fatigue and reduced appetite. Symptoms usually appear about a week after exposure but can emerge as soon as two days or more than two weeks later, according to CDC guidance. If you develop prolonged, severe diarrhea after eating fresh produce, seek medical care and mention possible Cyclospora exposure so clinicians can order appropriate testing and treatment.
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