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...]
Cyclospora Strikes Texas for Third Straight Year
For the third straight year, Texas has been hit by a Cyclospora outbreak. The rare parasite usually associated with developing countries in tropical or sub-tropical regions has made its way to Texas on food. More than 25 counties have been affected included those surrounding the metropolitan areas of Houston, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio. In 2013 and 2014, contaminated cilantro imported from the Puebla region of Mexico was identified as the source of the outbreaks.. In 2014, at least 126 people were sickened, the 2013 outbreak included 270 Texans. When ingested in its mature state, Cyclospora causes an infection called cyclosporiasis. On average, just 150 cases are reported nationwide each year, most of them are associated with travel to developing countries. Symptoms of … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Sickens 151 in Texas
A Cyclospora outbreak in Texas has grown to include 151 people. Most of the illnesses have been reported within the last month and almost half of them have occurred in Travis County, which includes the city Austin. Cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite, causes watery diarrhea lasting a few days to a few months. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, abdominal cramps, bloating, increased gas, nausea, vomiting and a low fever. Health officials urge anyone with these symptoms should contact their health care provider. Cyclospora is a parasite normally found in tropical or sub-tropical areas. Food can become contaminated with Cyclospora through unsanitary conditions at any point on its … [Read more...]
Cyclospora in Texas Sickens 113
Food contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite has sickened at least 113 people in 26 Texas counties over the last few weeks. The major metropolitan areas of Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio are included. This is the third straight year that Texas has been hit with a cyclosporiasis outbreak. Both previous outbreaks were linked to cilantro imported from the the Puebla region of Mexico. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis can last up to two months and include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms. Some case patients from past outbreaks said the diarrhea is so frequent and forceful they have missed days of work. Cyclospora is a parasite normally found in tropical or … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Parasite Sickens 90 in 22 Texas Counties
At least 90 people in 22 Texas counties have been food contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite. All but 12 of those illnesses have been reported in the last two weeks. Health officials are not yet sure of the food source. Cyclospora is a parasite normally found in tropical or sub-tropical areas. If ingested in its mature state, it causes an infection called cyclosporiasis. On average, 150 cases are reported nationwide each year, most of them are associated with travel to developing countries. This is the third straight year that Texas has been hit with a cyclosporiasis outbreak. Both previous outbreaks were linked to cilantro imported form the the Puebla region of Mexico. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis can last two months and include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Sickens 84 in Texas
A cyclospora outbreak has sickened 84 people in Texas. The illnesses have been reported from 20 counties. Travis County, which includes the city of Austin, has reported the most cases with 37. Cyclospora is a parasite normally found in tropical or sub-tropical areas. If ingested in its mature state, the parasite causes an infection called cyclosporiasis. Only about 150 of these infections are reported nationwide each year, most of which are associated with travel. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis can last two months and include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms. Treatment with the antibiotic combination Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), sold under the brand … [Read more...]
Largest Multistate Food Poisoning Outbreaks 2014: #1
A cyclospora outbreak that sickened more than 304 people in 19 states during the summer months was the largest multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2014 based on number of people sickened. The food source for the cases in all states but Texas was never discovered. Similarly, in a 2013 cyclospora outbreak that sickened 643 people in 25 states, a food source was only identified in Iowa, Nebraska and Texas. In both outbreaks, Texas reported with most cases 270 in 2013 and 164 in 2014. And, in both years cilantro imported from Mexico was identified as the source of illnesses there. The other states reporting cases were: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, … [Read more...]
Source of Most Cyclospora Cases in Current Outbreak Unknown
A cyclospora outbreak that sickened 304 people in 19 states this summer has gone largely unsolved. Cilantro from Mexico was identified as the source of the 133 cases in Texas, but the source of the 171 cases in the remaining 18 states has not been identified. Similarly, in a 2013 outbreak, a food source for of most of the 643 cases of cyclospora reported in 25 states was never identified. In both outbreaks, cilantro imported from Puebla Mexico was identified as the food source for cases in Texas. This year, 133 people in Texas contracted infections from eating food contaminated with the parasite, last year, 270 Texans got cyclosporiasis from contaminated cilantro. Cyclospora is a parasite normally found in tropical or sub-tropical regions. If ingested in its mature state, the … [Read more...]
Texas Cyclospora Outbreak Source is Cilantro from Mexico, Again
Cilantro from Mexico is the source of a cyclospora outbreak in Texas for the second straight summer. At least 126 people in Texas contracted infections from eating food contaminated with the parasite before health officials declared an end to the outbreak late yesterday. Last year, 270 Texans contracted cyclosporiasis from cilantro grown in the same area identified the source this year, Puebla, Mexico. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted traced the source to Puebla by starting at a four investigations at four restaurants in Texas where some of the illnesses were reported. The agency has increased surveillance sampling on cilantro imported that region and is working with Mexican officials to narrow the source to a specific farm or growing area. It is possible that … [Read more...]
CDC: Cyclospora Sickens 304 in 19 States
Food contaminated with cyclospora sickened at least 304 people in 19 states this summer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most of the illnesses, 133, are in Texas where health authorities have identified cilantro imported from Puebla, Mexico as the source of the illnesses. Cilantro from Puebla, Mexico was also the food source of a 2013 cyclospora outbreak in Texas that sickened 270 people. Cyclospora is a parasite found in tropical or sub-tropical regions. If ingested in its mature state, the parasite causes an infection called cyclosporiasis. Only about 150 of these infections are reported nationwide each year. Normally associated with travel. Epidemiological and traceback investigations conducted at four restaurants in Texas indicated fresh … [Read more...]
