The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting an update on the domestically acquired cyclospora outbreak with illness onset on or after April 2023. In the past few years there have been large cyclospora outbreaks in the United States during the summer months. People usually get sick by eating contaminated fresh produce. Outbreak Numbers "Domestically acquired" is an important distinction, since it used to be that people contracted this parasite when they traveled outside the United States to tropical regions, and ate contaminated produce. That is no longer the case, as of 2019. Last year there were at least 1,129 cases of cyclosporiasis in the U.S. There are at least 97 people sick in 16 states. Sixteen people have been hospitalized. The case count by state … [Read more...]
Tacos del GNAR Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 45 in Colorado
A Tacos del GNAR cyclospora outbreak has sickened at least 45 people in Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Tacos del GNAR is a gourmet taco shop that serves unusual tacos. As of June 15, 2023, there are 62 cases of cyclospora reported in that state. Colorado averages 63 cases a year. No one has been hospitalized as a result of this outbreak. All 45 people likely ate at Tacos del GNAR, located at 630 Sherman Street in Ridgway, Colorado, before they got sick. The patients said they ate there since May 1, 2023. The restaurant is partnering with the health department in all aspects of the investigation. Tacos del GNAR got rid of all their produce when they were told about the outbreak. Anyone who ate at Tacos del GNAR since May 1, … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak in Georgia Reported; No Case Count
A cyclospora outbreak in Georgia has been reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District. There is no information about case counts, illness onset dates, if anyone has been hospitalized, or possible causes. Investigators do say that the investigation is ongoing and they expect the number of cases to increase. Every summer in the United States for the past few years, there has been at least one cyclospora outbreak. The parasite is endemic to tropical regions, and cases used to be only from people who traveled to those areas. But now cyclospora outbreaks have been linked to produce grown in the United States. Last year, there were more than 1,000 cyclospora illnesses in this country. The outbreak was not solved. The cyclospora oocyst uses the human … [Read more...]
Do We Care About Cyclospora Anymore?
For the fifth straight year, more than 1,000 Americans developed cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection, from food sold, and some of it grown, in the U.S. Decades ago, these Cyclospora infections, which are characterized by frequent bouts of explosive diarrhea, were associated with travel to underdeveloped countries with tropical or subtropical climates. But the sharp rise of non-travel-related (NTR) illnesses since 2013 gave birth to a Cyclospora season in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks the number of NTR Cyclospora cases reported each season, which runs from May to September, and publishes monthly updates. Here's what those annual totals look like over the last 10 years: Humans are the only known reservoirs for Cyclospora. So when people … [Read more...]
Now 1060 Cyclospora Illnesses in the United States This Summer
There are now 1060 cyclospora illnesses in 33 states in this country this summer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sixty-nine people have been hospitalized, and there are no deaths. While these illness are reported year round, in the spring and summer the number of domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis usually increase exponentially. In previous years, the number of cases peaked between June and July. Activity can occur as late as September. Many of these cases can't be linked to an outbreak, in part because there is a lack of validated laboratory fingerprinting methods needed to link the cases together. Questionnaires and interviews are used to determine what patients ate in the 14 day period before illnesses began. If a … [Read more...]
Generic Cyclospora Outbreak Illnesses Reach 800, 52 in Hospital
The generic Cyclospora outbreak illnesses have reached 800, with 52 in the hospital, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's an increase of 416 more ill persons since the last update issued a month ago, and 22 more people hospitalized. None of these patients had a history of international travel during the 14 day period before illness onset. And there is still no food or foods or venues named by the government. The median illness onset date is June 29, 2022. The illness onset range is from May 3, 2022 through August 12, 2022. This outbreak could still grow since it takes time from when a person eats contaminated food, gets sick, is evaluated and diagnosed, and the illness is reported. Historically, there has been a large spike in domestically … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table Updated
The FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table updated with more information about the current outbreaks, including two cyclospora outbreaks, one E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, and two new Salmonella outbreaks. Case counts have been adjusted. The investigation into the Daily Harvest French Lentils outbreak has not advanced. For the cyclospora outbreaks, cases from one outbreak have been "re-grouped" into the other outbreak based on genomic data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One outbreak increased from 6 cases to 70, and the other case count was adjusted downward from 98 to 41. This means that the government has more ability to identify the gene sequences in cyclospora oocysts than in previous outbreaks. For the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in a "not yet identified … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Grows to 77 Sick With No Source Named
A cyclospora outbreak grows to 77 ill. This outbreak, identified by the FDA last week, has grown from 60 cases, according to that agency's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. In that investigation, traceback has been initiated, samples have been collected, and analysis is initiated. No recall has been issued, and no outbreak investigation notice has been published. There is another mystery cyclospora outbreak on that table, with six people sick. In that outbreak, traceback has been initiated. Every summer since 2013, there has been at least one cyclospora outbreak in the United States. These illnesses have been linked to raspberries, mesclun lettuce, basil, cilantro, vegetable trays, and snow peas. Some of these items were imported, but some were grown and processed in the United … [Read more...]
New Cyclospora Outbreak, Two Outbreaks Ended Unsolved
A new cyclospora outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, while two other outbreaks have ended unsolved. The new cyclospora outbreak has sickened at least six people. The food responsible has not yet been identified. And traceback has been initiated. This joins the other cyclospora outbreak that was announced last week, with at least 60 sick and no food, again, identified. Traceback has been initiated in that investigation, and samples have been collected for analysis. The two outbreaks that have ended are the Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ that sickened at least 14 people. Although traceback was conducted, no food was identified. And a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened at least 12 people has also ended unsolved. The only … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Added to FDA CORE Outbreak Table
The cyclospora outbreak announced by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention on June 30, 2022, has been added to the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, with at least 51 people sick. No food linked to these illnesses has been identified, and we don't know where the ill persons live, the patient age range, or illness onset dates. And the Jif peanut butter Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak has ended. There is a discrepancy in the numbers reported in that cyclospora outbreak between the FDA and CDC. The CDC reported that there are 61 cases of non-travel linked cyclosporiasis reported in May and June 2022, while the FDA has 51 cases linked in this outbreak. Every year since 2013, there has been a cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. that occurs among people who have not traveled … [Read more...]
