The US Food and Drug Administration is investigating a new Cyclospora outbreak involving 72 identified cases, its sixth such investigation this year. The foodborne parasite can cause severe watery diarrhoea, and the announcement adds to an unusually large nationwide rise in infections that has already far exceeded typical annual levels.

The CDC has received reports of more than 11,500 cases across 41 states, including 308 hospitalisations and no deaths; 4,173 cases are confirmed and more than 7,400 are probable. One earlier outbreak was linked to Mexican-grown shredded iceberg lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms to 27 states, but it is not yet clear whether the new cases share that source; the FDA says it is conducting a traceback investigation.