CDC: 436 ill from parasite linked to McDonald’s salads

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — The Center for Disease Control is reporting that 436 people became ill from a parasite linked to McDonald’s salads with cases reported in 15 states including Virginia.

According to the CDC, the Cyclospora infection was reported in people who ate salads from McDonald’s restaurants. Cases of the illness were reported in Connecticut, Florida, Virginia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

The CDC states in the Virginia, Connecticut, and Tennessee cases, individuals bought salads from a McDonald’s restaurant while traveling to Illinois.

People who became ill from the parasite were between the ages of 14 and 91. There were no reports of deaths, but at least 20 have been hospitalized.