The FDA has updated the basil cyclospora outbreak that has now sickened at least 205 people in 11 states. That's an increase of 73 patients since the last update which was posted on July 25, 2019. Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The basil in question is imported from Mexico by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos. That facility recalled basil on July 24, 2019. Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil imported by Siga Logistics. Do not eat or serve uncooked items such as pesto or salad that may include basil imported from Mexico, unless you are absolutely certain it was not imported by Siga Logistics. If you don't know where the basil you want to use came from, don't use it. The last illness onset in this cyclosporiasis outbreak … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Associated With Workplace Cafeterias in Central Virginia
A cyclospora outbreak that is associated with three workplace cafeterias has sickened people in central Virginia, according to a news release by the Virginia Department of Health. A food or water source of these cyclosporiasis outbreaks has not been identified by public health officials. The press release states that workplace cafeterias in the following locations are part of the online investigation: Capital One Building at 1600 Capital One Drive in McLean, Virginia; Valo Park Building at 7950 Jones Branch Drive in McLean, Virginia; and CarMax at 12800 Tuckahoe Creek Parkway in Richmond, Virginia. These cafeterias are not "widely accessible" to the general public. Officials are working with the business owners to try to solve this outbreak. There are 39 confirmed cases of … [Read more...]
Cooper’s Hawk Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 80 to 100
The Cooper's Hawk cyclospora outbreak has sickened 80 to 100 people in the Jacksonville, Florida area. Officials have not yet identified a specific food or beverage that may have caused this outbreak, but there is a current multistate cyclospora outbreak that is linked to basil imported from Mexico. There are at least 132 people sick in 11 states in that outbreak. And there is a cyclospora outbreak in Minnesota, with at least 35 people sick, that is associated with three restaurants in that state. Just in the last three months, 580 people in the United States have been sickened with cyclosporiasis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Florida is just one of the 32 states with patients. These illnesses have occurred every summer in this country for … [Read more...]
Minnesota Cyclospora Outbreak: Three Restaurants Named by MDH
The Minnesota Department of Health has identified 35 lab-confirmed cases of cyclospora that are associated with three Minnesota restaurants in different areas of the state. Basil is implicated in these illnesses, according to Doug Schultz, Information Officer for the DOH. This Minnesota cyclospora outbreak may be linked to the multistate cyclospora outbreak announced by the FDA yesterday, but we don't know for sure. In the multi-state outbreak, 132 people in 11 states are sick. There are 26 lab-confirmed cases associated with City Market in Rochester, 4 lab-confirmed cases associated with Outback Steakhouse in Hermantown, and 5 lab-confirmed cases associated with a conference held in Duluth that was catered by Duluth Grill. Minnesota is one of the states named in the FDA … [Read more...]
Imported Fresh Basil Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 132 in 11 States
A cyclospora outbreak linked to imported fresh basil has sickened at least 132 people in 11 states, according to the FDA. The basil was by the firm Siga Logistics de RL de CV, located in Morelos, Mexico. The FDA has requested a voluntary recall of the basil and the firm has agreed. We don't know the case count by state yet, illness onset dates, or the patient age range, but ill people live in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Exposures occurred at restaurants in four states: Florida, Minnesota, New York, and Ohio. Four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil imported by Siga Logistics from Morelos, Mexico. That includes … [Read more...]
Northern Virginia Cyclospora Outbreak Has Sickened At Least 55
A cyclospora outbreak in Northern Virginia and the Arlington area has sickened at least 55 people, according to the Virginia Department of Health. This is a significant increase in cases reported since mid June 2019. There are 15 cyclosporiasis cases in Northern Virginia, and more than 40 people sick from "two large businesses in the area," are under investigation for suspected cyclosporiasis. The businesses are not named. And a food or water source of this outbreak has not been identified. The Virginia Department of Health is working with state, local, and federal health officials to investigate this increase. Northern Virginia Health Districts involved in this investigation include Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax (Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax and Falls Church), Loudoun, … [Read more...]
Boston Cyclospora Outbreak Has Now Sickened More Than 100
The Boston cyclospora outbreak has now sickened more than 100 people, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Those reports of illness have come in since May 1, 2019. In a typical year in that state, about 18 to 33 people are infected with this parasite. Most of the cases are in the greater Boston area, but some have been reported throughout the state. Other states, including New York, have reported increases in the number of cyclosporiasis cases, but the cause is still unknown. Last year, a huge cyclospora outbreak linked to McDonald's salads sickened more than 500 people, and 250 were sickened after eating Del Monte vegetable trays sold at Kwik Trip stores in the midwest. In the past, cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. have been linked to raspberries, snow … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Illness Spike in New York City Causes Concern
A cyclospora illness spike in New York city have raised concern among public health officials. More than 90 cases have been reported in that city since January 1, 2019, compared to 56 cases in in 2018, and 43 cases in 2017 during the same time period. Since July 1, 2019 alone there have been 40 cases diagnosed and reported to the New York City Health Department. About 30% of those patients have traveled outside the U.S. two weeks, mostly to Latin America, before they got sick, which is the typical reason people contract this infection. The cyclospora parasite is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. Investigators are looking at the 70% of cyclospora cases who did not travel outside the country to see if there is a possible common food source. New York … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak in Michigan Associated with Taste Restaurant Sickens Eight
A cyclospora outbreak in Southwest Michigan has sickened at least eight people, according to a news release from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Preliminary information suggests that those sickened were exposed to food products that were prepared or distributed by Taste restaurant in South Haven. Those people have gotten sick in the last month. And at least 14 other people are being investigated as being part of this outbreak cluster. Those sickened have said they have been eating out in Southwest Michigan since mid June. Officials from the The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Van Buren/Cass District Health Department are investigating this outbreak. The press … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak in Boston Sickens More Than 80 People
A cyclospora outbreak in the Boston area has sickened more than 80 people since May 2019, according to news reports. Dr. Larry Maddoff, medical director for the Bureau of Infectious Diseases and Laboratory Sciences at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health told Boston 25 News about this outbreak. Most of those sickened live in the greater Boston area and eastern Massachusetts. There is no word on which food may have carried the parasite, but most cyclospora outbreaks in the U.S. in the past few years have been linked to fresh produce. Cyclospora outbreaks have been occurring every summer in the United States in the past years. Last year, a cyclospora outbreak linked to McDonald's salads sickened more than 500 people. And a cyclospora outbreak linked to Del Monte vegetable … [Read more...]
