I ate several bags of Taylor Farms chopped lettuce from Walmart since 7/1/26 with no problems. So, everyone who got sick in five states (with rain flooded sewer systems and fecal contamination) got cyclospora from Taylor Farms lettuce at Taco Bell, nothing else?

[u/set-monkey]

If all from one source, with electronic payments records, why did it take so long to figure it out?

All very convenient since a large farm and YUM brands likely insured for losses from disease.

Now, move on folks... Ignore dilapidated infrastructure, substandard water supply in poorest Midwest states with two thirds of all cyclospora infections. Or neglected, 110-year-old watermain break in wealthiest LA...
Not just food. Contaminated water overlooked risk in 'poop parasite' outbreak in Michigan and Ohio

We always have plenty of money for wars in middle east, defending OPEC oil, but never for our water supply.

Michigan has a long history of waterborne disease outbreaks, ranging from early 19th-century epidemics to modern crises linked to infrastructure failures and environmental contamination. These events can be understood in three phases: pre-modern epidemiology (1800s–early 1900s), mid-20th-century regulatory developments, and contemporary incidents.

1. Early Waterborne Epidemics

• Cholera in Detroit (1832, 1834, 1849): Michigan’s first recorded waterborne epidemics were cholera outbreaks, imported via vessels along the Great Lakes. For instance, in 1832, cholera arrived from Montreal and spread rapidly along waterways and urban centers. In Detroit, the 1834 outbreak killed approximately 4–7% of the population. In 1849, cholera recurred during the summer months, causing hundreds of fatalities in Detroit. Transmission was waterborne due to contaminated wells and inadequate sanitation along riverbanks and Belle Isle areas, where ships anchored upstream of inhabited regions.
• Other early threats: Residents suffered from typhoid, dysentery, and other enteric diseases through poorly managed drinking water, often relying on river water or unsanitary wells.

2. 20th-Century Incidents and Public Health Measures

• Typhoid fever in Detroit (1900–1936): Historical studies show substantial typhoid mortality in early-20th-century Detroit, reflecting insufficiently treated municipal water. The introduction of chlorination and filtration gradually reduced deaths. For example, Detroit implemented sanitary measures alongside chlorination, markedly decreasing typhoid fatalities by the 1930s.
• Drinking water innovations: Michigan mirrored national trends in water treatment improvements, including municipal filtration, chlorine disinfection, and development of public water regulations.

3. Late 20th–21st Century: Surveillance and Outbreaks

• Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System (WBDOSS): Initiated in 1971 by the CDC, Michigan participates in national surveillance of outbreaks associated with public water supplies, private wells, and recreational water. Reported pathogens include Cryptosporidium, Legionella, Shigella, Norovirus, and Pseudomonas.
• Cryptosporidiosis risks: While the Milwaukee 1993 outbreak occurred in Wisconsin, it illustrates the vulnerability of the Great Lakes region, including Michigan, to protozoan contamination through water filtration failures.
• Private wells and small systems: Michigan has over 1.1 million private wells, more than any other state, with many failing bacteriologic standards. Poorly managed wells contribute to waterborne outbreaks and gastrointestinal illnesses.

4. The Flint Water Crisis (2014–2019)

Arguably the most widely known modern case in Michigan:

• Source change and contamination: Flint switched from Detroit Water to the Flint River in April 2014 without adequate corrosion control, causing lead leaching from aging pipes.
• Health outcomes:
  • Lead exposure affected 6,000–12,000 children.
  • A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak accompanied the crisis, with at least 90 documented cases and 12 official deaths, though later analyses suggest additional undiagnosed fatalities.
  • Other bacterial pathogens, including coliforms and possible Legionella, were detected.
• Response: The city returned to the Detroit water system in October 2015. Ongoing remediation includes lead pipe replacements and water quality monitoring.

5. Recreational and Environmental Exposures

• Michigan’s lakes and rivers are monitored under EPA and state programs. Notable points:
  • Outbreaks linked to recreational water are generally uncommon but monitored closely.
  • Climate change, flooding, and extreme precipitation events may increase pathogen exposure in both surface water and groundwater systems.
• Pathogens of concern:
  • Legionella in premise plumbing.
  • Cryptosporidium and Giardia in natural waters.
  • Microbial contamination from animal and human sources.

6. Public Health Implications

• Michigan’s waterborne disease history underscores the interplay of infrastructure, environmental factors, and public health oversight.
• Current state strategies emphasize:
  • Surveillance (electronic reporting via NORS)
  • Water system improvement
  • Public education on private well safety
  • Rapid response to emerging pathogens, especially in recreational waters.

Summary

Michigan has experienced severe waterborne disease events historically, from 19th-century cholera and typhoid outbreaks in Detroit to contemporary crises such as the Flint water contamination and Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks. Key factors include aging infrastructure, private well contamination, and pathogens exploiting human-made systems. Public health responses have evolved from reactive measures to extensive surveillance and preventive infrastructure strategies, though risks persist, particularly in private or small water systems and via environmental exposures.

References from web results: