At least 125 cases of cyclospora infection have been reported in 13 states, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) in Minnesota. Health officials have not determined if the cases are linked and a food source has not been identified. But as spike in cases is unusual. Cyclospora is a rare parasite normally associated with tropical or subtropical climates. In the U.S., cases of infection, called cyclosporiasis, are most often associated with travel. Last year, the single-celled organism burst into national headlines when a 25-state outbreak sickened 631 people, hospitalizing 49. Produce imported from Mexico was identified as the source of most of those illnesses. Cyclospora is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, meaning microscopic amounts of … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Cases Reported In Maine, Texas
One year after a cyclospora outbreak swept through 25 states sickening 631 people, new cases of infection (cyclosporiasis) from the rare parasite have been reported in Maine and Texas. At least 61 cases have been reported in Texas. In Maine, four cases have been confirmed and test results on two other cases are pending. Health officials have not yet identified a food source for the outbreaks or established if cases in both states are related. Texas was hardest hit in last year's outbreak with 270 cases. Maine was not part of the 2013 outbreak and has not seen a case of cyclospora since 2010. Maine's four cases this year were reported between June 24 and July 7. For three of those patients, onset of illness began between May 27 and June 15. The Texas cases were also reported over the … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Sickened 631
A cyclospora outbreak that began one year ago was the largest food poisoning outbreak of 2013 sickening 631 people in 25 states before ending in late September. At least 49 people were hospitalized, Cyclospora is a rare parasite normally found in tropical regions. Health investigators determined that the outbreak had multiple food sources, but most illnesses were linked to tainted produce imported from Mexico. Eating food contaminated with cyclospora causes an infection called cyclosporiasis. The main symptom is watery diarrhea that can last up to two months if untreated. Other symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, increased gas, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches. Although the outbreak included cases in 25 states, most of them, about … [Read more...]
Largest Multi-State Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2013: #1
A Cyclospora outbreak that began in June and sickened 631 people in 25 states before ending in late September was the largest multi-state food poisoning outbreak of 2013. Health investigators determined that the outbreak had multiple food sources and that most illnesses were linked to tainted produce imported from Mexico. Almost 80 percent of the cases were from three states: Iowa, Nebraska and Texas. Public health investigators in Iowa, which had 140 cases, and Nebraska, which had 87, determined that the source of illness in those states was commercial bagged salad mix produced by Taylor Farms of Mexico and served at Olive Graden and Red Lobster restaurants. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA concluded that many of the 270 cases of … [Read more...]
FDA’s Cyclospora Report On Taylor Farms De Mexico
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published the findings of the environmental assessment for cyclospora of several facilities operated by Taylor Farms de Mexico. Commercial bagged salad mix produced by the company and served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in Iowa and Nebraska was identified as the outbreak source in those states. From June through August, 631 people in 25 states contracted cyclospora infections. Of those, 239 patients were in Nebraska and Iowa. The source of 278 cases of cyclosporiasis in Texas was identified as contaminated cilantro imported from Mexico. The cause of 126 illnesses in 22 states was unknown. Cyclospora is a rare parasite that is usually associated with travel to tropical areas. Symptoms include bouts of watery diarrhea … [Read more...]
CDC Issues Final Report on Cyclospora Outbreak
The Cyclospora outbreak that began in June sickened 631 people in 25 states before ending in late September, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which issued its final report on the outbreak today. Health investigators determined that there were multiple sources for illnesses reported. In Iowa and Nebraska, the food source was identified as commercial bagged salad mix and in Texas many illnesses were caused by cilantro. Cyclospora, a rare parasite usually associated with travel to tropical areas, causes an infection called cyclosporiasis. Symptoms include a watery diarrhea that lasts an average of 57 days if untreated. Other symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, increased gas, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and low-grade … [Read more...]
CDC’s Cyclospora Count Drops to 642 Cases in 25 States
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dropped the total number of people included in the Cyclospora outbreaks to 642, four less than last week's report, according to the agency's latest update. A case in one new state, Pennsylvania, means the outbreaks have now spread through 25 states. Forty five people have been hospitalized. Arkansas, Illinois and Pennsylvania each had an increase of 1 case since last week's report. The count in Texas was dropped by five, and Iowa and Kansas totals were each reduced by one. By state, the new case count is as follows: Texas (278), Iowa (153), Nebraska (86), Florida (32), Wisconsin (17), Arkansas (13), Illinois (13), New York (9), Georgia (5), Missouri (5), New Jersey (4), Kansas (3), Louisiana (3), Massachusetts (3), Minnesota (3), … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Has Sickened 641, Hospitalized 41
The nationwide cyclospora outbreak has now sickened 641 people and hospitalized 41, according to the latest update by the CDC. That's an increase of five since the last update last week, which indicates the outbreak may be slowing down. No deaths have been reported. The number of cases in each area is as follows: Texas (282), Iowa (156), Nebraska (86), Florida (32), Wisconsin (16), Illinois (11), Arkansas (10), Georgia (5), Missouri (5), New York City (5), Kansas (4), Louisiana (3), Connecticut (2), Michigan (1), Minnesota (2), New Jersey (4), New York (2), Ohio (2), Virginia (3), California (1), New Hampshire (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), and Wyoming (1). The patient age range remains from less than one year to 92 years, with a median age of 51 years. Fifty-six percent of … [Read more...]
Taylor Farms Salad Mix Not Source of TX Cyclospora Cases
Salad mix from Taylor Farms, which was identified as the source of Cyclospora illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska, is not the source of Cyclospora illnesses in Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As Food Poisoning Bulletin reported over the weekend, the agency now believes that it's likely that there are multiple sources responsible for Cyclospora infections that have sickened more than 600 people in 22 states. Although Cyclospora is rare, there is a precedent for overlapping or back-to-back outbreaks. In 1997, more than 1,300 people contracted Cyclospora infections between March and July. Those illnesses were caused by three different food sources (mesclun, raspberries and basil) from different countries. At least 610 cases of Cyclospora have been … [Read more...]
Clear of Cyclospora, Taylor Farms de Mexico Resumes Operations
Taylor Farms de Mexico, the producer of mixed salad linked to Cyclospora outbreaks at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in Iowa and Nebraska, resumed operations yesterday after receiving an all-clear from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company, which had suspended operations August 9 during the agency's investigation, has agreed to implement a comprehensive Cyclospora sampling program for leafy green and other products from their farms and processing facility in Mexico. The program will also include sampling water and continued monitoring of the sanitary conditions at the facilities. The FDA has inspected Taylor Farms de Mexico’s processing facility and five farms identified through the traceback investigation and found that conditions and practices were in … [Read more...]
