A cyclospora outbreak in Texas has sickened at least 56 people, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. “This Texas cyclospora outbreak happens every year,” said attorney Fred Pritzker. “There were hundreds of cases of cyclosporiasis last year in Texas and in the years before.”
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the cyclospora parasite. This parasite is ingested when contaminated water containing the sporulated organism gets onto fresh produce. When a person is infected, the parasite causes symptoms including explosive and watery diarrhea, cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, weight loss, and vomiting. Symptoms can last for weeks or months and can recur.
“Past outbreaks have been associated with basil, snow peas, mesclun greens, and cilantro,” Fred added. “These outbreaks happen in the summer because that’s the season for these produce items.”
In 2015, 237 people were sickened in a Texas cyclospora outbreak that was associated with fresh cilantro. Last year, more than 1000 people were sickened with cyclosporiasis in an outbreak that was never solved; 319 of those patients lived in Texas.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a cyclospora infection, you can contact attorney Fred Pritzker for help by calling 1-888-377-8900.
Consumers can thoroughly wash all fresh produce before eating it, but the parasite can cling to rough surfaces of produce, such as lettuce leave and raspberries, and is difficult to remove. Cooking will destroy the parasite.
Texas has issued a Cyclospora Health Advisory to all healthcare providers in the state. If anyone presents with diarrhea that lasts more than a few days, or diarrhea that is accompanied by fatigue or weight loss, they should be checked for the parasite. Doctors don’t usually check for this infection; the diagnosis is made by submission of stool specimens for “Ova and Parasite” testing.
There is another cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. at this time. At least 185 people are sick in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan after eating recalled Del Monte Vegetable Trays that were sold at Kwik Trip locations across the upper Midwest. Fred and his team of lawyers have filed several lawsuits in that outbreak.
