At least 90 people in 22 Texas counties have been food contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite. All but 12 of those illnesses have been reported in the last two weeks. Health officials are not yet sure of the food source.
Cyclospora is a parasite normally found in tropical or sub-tropical areas. If ingested in its mature state, it causes an infection called cyclosporiasis. On average, 150 cases are reported nationwide each year, most of them are associated with travel to developing countries.
This is the third straight year that Texas has been hit with a cyclosporiasis outbreak. Both previous outbreaks were linked to cilantro imported form the the Puebla region of Mexico.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis can last two months and include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms.
