(ANGOLA) - Cyclospora cases continue to rise across northeast Indiana, southern Michigan and northwest Ohio as federal health officials expand their investigation into the nation's largest outbreak of the parasite. Nearly 1,950 illnesses have been linked to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in nine states. At least 98 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Indiana now has 710 confirmed cases. Steuben and Noble counties each have 40 cases, DeKalb County has 38 and LaGrange County has six.
Michigan has reported 7,664 confirmed cases after adding nearly 500 in two days. Branch County's total doubled in one day to 10 cases, while Hillsdale County now has 52.
Williams County, Ohio, has reported two confirmed cases.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause severe and prolonged gastrointestinal illness. Washing alone does not eliminate cyclospora. Health officials say cooking food to a temperature of 158 degrees or higher is the only way to effective kill the parasite.