The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have updated the nationwide Cyclospora outbreak case count. Now 646 people in 24 states have been sickened. Forty-four people have been hospitalized; there have been no deaths. The outbreak count by state is: Texas (283), Iowa (154), Nebraska (86), Florida (32), Wisconsin (17), Arkansas (12), Illinois (12), New York City (7), Georgia (5), Missouri (5), Kansas (4), New Jersey (4), Louisiana (3), Massachusetts (3), Minnesota (3), Ohio (3), Virginia (3), Connecticut (2), New York (2), California (1), Michigan (1), New Hampshire (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), and Wyoming (1). Since the last update on September 4, 2013, five additional cases were reported. Ill persons range in age from less than one year to 92 years, with a median … [Read more...]
Nationwide Cyclospora Outbreak Case Count Stands at 636
The CDC has updated the Cyclospora outbreak again; now 636 people are ill and 45 people have been hospitalized. That's an addition of 20 cases since the last update was issued two days ago. The next update from the government will be on September 4, 2013. Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite that causes an infection called cyclosporiasis. Symptoms include watery and explosive diarrhea, fatigue, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, increased gas, vomiting, fever, and headache. The time between infection and symptoms is usually about 1 week. Since the Cyclospora oocyst isn't infective immediately when it's passed in feces, but takes a few days to sporulate and become infectious, this disease isn't usually passed from person to person, but through contaminated … [Read more...]
Now 616 Sickened in Nationwide Cyclospora Outbreak
As of August 28, 2013, there are now 616 people sickened in the nationwide Cyclospora outbreak. The ill persons live in 22 states: Texas (263), Iowa (156), Nebraska (86), Florida (32), Wisconsin (16), Illinois (11), Arkansas (10), Georgia (5), Missouri (5), New York City (5), Kansas (4), New Jersey (4), Louisiana (3), Virginia (3), Connecticut (2), Minnesota (2), New York (2), Ohio (2), California (1), New Hampshire (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), and Wyoming (1). Some of the cases may be from travel to other states, and one case may be associated with travel out of the country. Among the 591 people with available information, 45 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Taylor Farms de Mexico, with FDA approval, has resumed production and shipment of salad mix, … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Lawsuit Roundup – Iowa and Nebraska
Several lawsuits have been filed on behalf of victims of the Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened over 600 people in 22 states. The cases in Iowa and Nebraska are linked to lettuce salad served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants that was supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico, according to the CDC. Below is a roundup of the Iowa and Nebraska lawsuits filed to date. Iowa Cyclospora Lawsuits At least 2 Cyclospora lawsuits have been filed in Iowa, both in the United Stated District Court for the District of Northern Iowa. The defendants (companies sued) in both Iowa lawsuits are Darden Corporation, the owner of Olive Garden, Red Lobster and other restaurants, and Taylor Fresh Foods, the owner of Taylor Farms de Mexico. One Iowa plaintiff (person who is suing) ate at the … [Read more...]
Official Cyclospora Count Tops 600; More Cases Likely
The official CDC count for the nationwide Cyclospora outbreak has topped 600, with 601 people sick in 22 states. Forty people have been hospitalized; there have been no deaths. Illnesses that occurred after July 15, 2013 may not yet have been reported because of the long time lag between when someone gets sick and the case is diagnosed and reported. Cyclospora tests are not ordered by physicians very often. According to the CDC's epidemiological curve, they expect at least 30 to 40 more cases before this outbreak finally ends. The most cases were reported in mid-June, with the peak being 6/20/13, when 41 cases were reported. The 22 states included in this outbreak are Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Continues to Grow; CDC Issues Advice to Consumers
The Cyclospora outbreak has now sickened 598 people, according to the latest update from the CDC. Forty people have been hospitalized, and there have been no deaths. Public health officials do not know if all of the illnesses are part of the same outbreak, although the outbreak in Iowa and Nebraska has been linked to a food service salad mix. Taylor Farms de Mexico salads, sold at Olive Garden and Red Lobster, are linked to the Cyclospora cases in those states. The outbreak by state is: Texas (250), Iowa (155), Nebraska (86), Florida (31), Wisconsin (16), Illinois (11), Arkansas (10), Georgia (5), Missouri (5), New York City (5), Kansas (4), Louisiana (3), Connecticut (2), Minnesota (2), New Jersey (2), New York (2), Ohio (2), Virginia (2), California (1), New Hampshire (1), South … [Read more...]
Nationwide Cyclospora Outbreak Has Sickened 557 People
The nationwide Cyclospora outbreak has now sickened 557 people in 19 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty-five people have been hospitalized in this outbreak. The case count by state is: Texas (225), Iowa (153), Nebraska (86), Florida (28), Wisconsin (14), Illinois (11), Arkansas (7), New York City (5), Georgia (4), Kansas (4), Missouri (4), Louisiana(3), Minnesota (2), New Jersey (2), New York (2), Ohio (2), Virginia (2), California (1), Connecticut (1), and New Hampshire (1). Some of these counts include people who acquired the infection in other states, and there may be one travel-associated case. Most of the illness onset dates have ranged from mid-June through mid-July 2013. The outbreak in Iowa and Nebraska has been linked to imported … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Grows to 539 Sick, 32 Hospitalized
The CDC is reporting that at least 539 people are now sickened in the nationwide Cyclospora outbreak. Thirty-two people have been hospitalized. The outbreak has now spread to 19 states and New York City. The case count by state is: Texas (215), Iowa (153), Nebraska (86), Florida (27), Wisconsin (14), Illinois (9), Arkansas (5), New York City (5), Georgia (4), Missouri (4), Kansas (3), Louisiana(3), New Jersey (2), Ohio (2), Virginia (2), California (1), Connecticut (1), Minnesota (1), New Hampshire (1), and New York (1). Some of the cases were acquired in different states, and there is one that may be a travel-associated case. Most of the illness onset dates are from mid June to mid-July. The number of cases reported each day is slowing, following the epi curve. Additional cases … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Questionnaire Asks if Patient Ate at Subway, Olive Garden, Red Lobster
Health officials are still investigating the cause of an outbreak of Cyclospora infections (cyclosporiasis) that has sickened people in 17 states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (including New York City), Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin. One tool investigators are using is outbreak questionnaires. Outbreak victims answer the questions. The answers are then analyzed to determine if there is any food or location that connects the illnesses. In Iowa and Nebraska, health officials found a link between Taylor Farms salad mix served at restaurants and the illnesses. The FDA said this salad mix was served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in those states. Cyclospora victims … [Read more...]
Nebraska Cyclospora Outbreak Case Count Increases to 87
As of August 8, 2013, there are 87 people sick with Cyclospora in the state of Nebraska. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services just updated their case count. Most of the Cyclospora cases, 47, are in Douglas county, right next to the Iowa border. Sarpy/Cass has 11 cases, and the Three Rivers region has 5. At least five people have been hospitalized in this outbreak. The illnesses in that state and in Iowa have been linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico food service salads served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants, part of the Darden chain. The salad mix that has been linked to this outbreak contained iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. Cyclospora is a rare parasite that causes gastrointestinal illnesses. The symptoms include watery … [Read more...]
