Cilantro from Mexico is the source of a cyclospora outbreak in Texas for the second straight summer. At least 126 people in Texas contracted infections from eating food contaminated with the parasite before health officials declared an end to the outbreak late yesterday. Last year, 270 Texans contracted cyclosporiasis from cilantro grown in the same area identified the source this year, Puebla, Mexico.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted traced the source to Puebla by starting at a four investigations at four restaurants in Texas where some of the illnesses were reported. The agency has increased surveillance sampling on cilantro imported that region and is working with Mexican officials to narrow the source to a specific farm or growing area.
It is possible that the same farm or growing area is the source of both outbreaks. Studies have shown that cyclospora oocysts can survive for extended periods of time in certain environments.
Health officials did not release the names of the restaurants where the tainted product was served. Nor did they last year.
Spikes in cyclosporiasis cases have also been reported in 18 other states. Health officials do not believe cilantro imported from Mexico is the source of illness in those states which are: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York , Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington. Investigations are considered ongoing in those states.
