Today's Article

"It's really 3a race against time to 4identify what's causing the outbreak so that it can be pulled from the shelves and keep people safe."

Michigan's chief medical executive saying early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly 5comes up during the investigation.

Still, officials say other foods have not 6been ruled out and no specific type of lettuce grower or supplier has been identified.

7Cyclospora cases can be hard to 8track because patients may have to remember what they ate weeks earlier.

"So we're going back and asking them where they ate, which restaurants they went to, which fast food chains, which menu items they ordered, which grocery stores they go to."

So far, Michigan and Ohio have reported more than 3,000 Cyclospora-related diarrhea cases.

At least 44 people have been hospitalized in Michigan and at least 46 in Ohio.

"The longer that 9contaminated products are being sold, being served in restaurants, available to consumers, the more people who will become 10infected."

31 states have reported cases to the CDC, though it's not clear if they're all connected to the same outbreak.

Cyclospora does not usually spread person to person. People typically get sick after eating or drinking something contaminated weeks earlier.

To reduce risk, health officials recommend buying whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-washed lettuce, throwing away 11outer layers and washing 12inner leaves.

And 13thoroughly cook your fruits and vegetables as well.