A Cyclospora outbreak in Canada has sickened 51 people in four provinces. An ongoing investigation by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada has not yet revealed the source of the outbreak. Cyclospora is a parasite native to tropical climates. Often, illnesses are associated with travel to tropical or suntropical countries and imported produce is usually the source of non-travel outbreaks in the U.S. or Canada. Recent U.S. outbreaks have been linked to cilantro and bagged salad mix. Other cyclospora outbreaks have been linked to raspberries, basil, blackberries, mesclun, and snap peas. In this outbreak, the 51 cases were reported between May and July from: British Columbia (1), Alberta (2), Ontario (44), and Quebec (4). One person … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Reappears in Texas
Texas has again been hit by a Cyclospora outbreak. Each year since 2013, produce contaminated with the parasite Cyclospora has sickened Texans during the summer months. Recently, more than a dozen cases of infections from the parasite have been reported in North Texas counties, according to NBC 5 in Dallas - Ft Worth. Illnesses have been reported from Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties, according to the station. A food source has not yet been identified. Cyclospora is a parasite normally found in subtropical climates. Symptoms of an infection form the parasite, called cyclosporiasis, include profuse, often explosive, diarrhea that can last for as long as 70 days. Other cyclosporiasis symptoms, which can also last 70 days, include abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, … [Read more...]
Food Poisoning Flashback: Cyclospora Produce Outbreaks
Produce from Mexico contaminated with Cyclospora has caused illness outbreaks that sickened hundreds of Americans in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2013, some of the illnesses were linked to tainted bagged salads, in 2014 and 2015 illnesses were linked to contaminated cilantro. Cyclospora is a parasite that lives in subtropical climates. The hallmark of an infection, called cyclosporiasis, is profuse, often explosive, diarrhea that can last for 70 days. Other cyclosporiasis symptoms, which can also last 70 days, include abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms. A 31-state cyclospora outbreak that sickened 546 was the second-largest multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2015. Some … [Read more...]
Largest Multistate Food Poisoning Outbreaks 2015: #2, Cyclospora
A 31-state cyclospora outbreak that sickened 546 was the second-largest multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2015. Some of the illnesses were linked to fresh cilantro imported from Puebla, Mexico. Other food sources were not identified. Cyclospora is a parasite that lives in subtropical climates. The hallmark of an infection, called cyclosporiasis, is profuse, often explosive, diarrhea that can last up to two months. Other cyclosporiasis symptoms, which can also last more than 60 days, include abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms. In 2014, cilantro from Puebla Mexico was also identified as the source of an outbreak that sickened at least 126 people in Texas. When … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Sickens 476 in 29 States
At least 476 people in 29 states have parasitic infections from food contaminated with Cyclospora, according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some of the infections have been linked to cilantro imported from Mexico. And some have been linked food served at restaurants. Symptoms of a Cyclospora infection, called cyclosporiasis, can last up to two months and include explosive diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms. These symptoms can also last more than 60 days. About 60 percent of the illnesses ave occurred since May 1. Texas has been hardest hit with at least 243 cases. Some of them were linked to food served at … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Sickens 384, Wisconsin, Texas and Georgia Hard Hit
At least 384 people in 26 states have been sickened with parasitic infections from food contaminated with Cyclospora. Some of the infections in Wisconsin, Georgia and Texas have been linked to restaurant food. And many infections in Texas and Wisconsin have been linked to cilantro imported from Mexico. Symptoms of a Cyclospora infection, called cyclosporiasis, can last up to two months and include explosive diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms. These symptoms can also last more than 60 days. About 59 percent of the illnesses have occurred since May 1, 2015. Health investigators are working to determine the source of all of the cases. Consumers should be careful … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Sickens 358 in 26 States, Restaurant Clusters in GA, TX, WI
At least 358 people in 26 states have parasitic infections from food contaminated with Cyclospora, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Clusters of illness related to restaurant food have been identified in Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin. Health officials have not released the names of those restaurants. Cyclospora causes an infection called cyclosporiasis which causes profuse, often explosive, diarrhea that can last up to two months. Other cyclosporiasis symptoms, which can also last more than 60 days, include abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms. About 56 percent of the illnesses have occurred since May 1, 2015. Cilantro imported from the Puebla … [Read more...]
Cilantro Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 218 in Texas, Wisconsin
A cilantro Cyclospora outbreak has sickened 218 people in Texas and Wisconsin this summer. Normally, Cyclospora infections are associated with travel to developing countries. But for the last three summers, the parasite has travelled here. In 2013, 631 people in 25 states were sickened in multiple, overlapping Cyclospora outbreaks from June through December. Health investigators determined that the outbreaks had multiple food sources and that most of the illnesses were linked to tainted produce imported from Mexico. About 80 percent of the cases were from three states: Iowa, Nebraska and Texas. The 227 cases in Iowa and Nebraska were linked to a commercial bagged salad mix produced by Taylor Farms of Mexico and served at Olive Graden and Red Lobster restaurants. Several lawsuits … [Read more...]
Cilantro Tainted by Human Waste Sickens Eight in Wisconsin
Eight people in Wisconsin contracted Cyclospora infections after eating cilantro imported from Mexico that was grown in fields contaminated with human waste. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has put a ban on summer imports of cilantro form the implicated area, says the illnesses are part of a two-state outbreak of parasitic infections that includes more than 200 cases in Texas. Cyclospora infections are usually associated with travel to developing counties. When ingested in its mature state, the parasite causes an infection called cyclosporiasis which causes profuse, often explosive, diarrhea that can last up to two months. Other symptoms of cyclosporiasis, which can also last more than 60 days, include abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of … [Read more...]
After Feces, TP Found in Fields, FDA Bans Some Mexican Cilantro
After finding human waste and toilet paper in Mexican cilantro fields that have been linked to U.S. Cyclospora outbreaks for three straight years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed an import alert on cilantro from the Puebla region of Mexico. The alert, which covers fresh intact and chopped cilantro, allows U.S. officials to detain without physical inspection any cilantro shipments from the Puebla region from April 1 through August 31. Cyclospora, a parasite that lives in subtropical regions, causes an infection called cyclosporiasis when ingested in its mature state. 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 … [Read more...]
