At least a few of the 610 people in 22 states who have been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis, the infection caused by the rare parasite Cyclospora, are food handlers. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some advice for them: if you have diarrhea, don't go to work. This advice applies to food handlers at all times, but is worth repeating as case counts climb. By state the 610 cases reported so far are as follows: Texas (258), Iowa (156), Nebraska (86), Florida (31) Wisconsin (16), Illinois (11), Arkansas (10), New York City (7), Georgia (5), Missouri (5), Kansas (4), Louisiana (3), New Jersey (3), Connecticut (2), Minnesota (2), New York (2), Ohio (2), Virginia (2), California (1), New Hampshire (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), and Wyoming (1). At least 43 … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak: 609 Illnesses in 22 states
At least 609 people in 22 states have confirmed cases of Cyclospora infections, 40 of them have been hospitalized, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That total represents an increase of eight confirmed cases since yesterday’s update. Some illnesses have likely not been reported yet, particularly those that began after July 16. Because there is some time between the date a person first becomes ill and the date a Cyclospora infection is confirmed, illnesses occurring may not yet have been reported because of the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This could take up to 5 to 6 weeks. The case counts by state are as follows: Texas (257), Iowa (156), Nebraska (86), Florida (31), Wisconsin … [Read more...]
Cyclospora: Almost 600 Sick, Slow Progress, No Recall
Almost 600 people in 20 states now have confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And the actual total is likely higher as some states have consistently reported more cases than are reflected in the agency's updates. (This post was updated August 19.) The outbreak has grown steadily since it was announced in early July, but with the exception of Iowa and Nebraska, progress on the investigation has been slow. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has described the work as "painstaking." Health officials in Iowa and Nebraska linked their cases to salad served at Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants in those states. Days later, the FDA announced that the source of the contaminated salad … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Investigation Halts Taylor Farms Production In Mexico
One week after salad it produced was linked to a Cyclospora outbreak that sickened hundreds of people in Iowa and Nebraska, Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily suspended production and shipment of leafy greens, salad mix and salad mix components from its operations in Mexico to the United States, the company told the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today. The company, which suspended operations Friday, has told FDA officials that it will not resume production or shipment of these products without the agency's approval. The suspension of operations at the plant in Mexico includes the implicated salad ingredients: iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, red cabbage and carrots; and others including green leaf lettuce and green cabbage. In Iowa and Nebraska, about 240 people who ate … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Expands: 535 Cases, 18 States
The Cyclospora outbreak has expanded to include 535 cases in 18 states. Virginia, the most recent state to join the outbreak, is reporting two cases. Texas is hardest hit, with more than 215 residents diagnosed with the infection, some of whom first became ill as recently as July 28. At this point, only cases in Iowa and Nebraska have been linked. The source of those illnesses was determined to be pre-packaged foodservice salad from Taylor Farms of Mexico served at Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants in those states. Health officials in Iowa and Nebraska said at the end of July that the tainted product was longer in circulation in those states. But case counts are rising in Texas and other states. And the outbreak is expanding to new states. Late last week, New Hampshire … [Read more...]
Texas Has Most Cyclospora Cases, Does It Hold Key to Outbreak?
With more than 200 cases, Texas is the state hardest hit by the Cyclospora outbreak. Does it hold the key to outbreak investigation? The investigation of the Cyclospora outbreak which has now sickened at least 514 people in 17 states has been slow going. Outside of last week's announcement that pre-packaged salad from Taylor Farms in Mexico served at Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants was the source of illness for cases in those states, there haven't been many breakthroughs. For example, we still don't know where else that salad mix may have been distributed or what other other food sources may be involved. No recalls have been issued in association with the outbreak. Federal health officials have joined a team of investigators in Texas, which now has almost as many cases as … [Read more...]
CDC: Cyclospora Outbreak Tops 500, 30 Hospitalized
More than 500 people in 17 states have been diagnosed with Cyclosporiasis, an infection from the rare Cyclospora parasite, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When did they eat the contaminated food? The incubation period for Cyclsoporiasis is about seven days. So far, the agency only has information on when illness began for 372 people. For 309 of them, onset of illness began between June 14 and July 6. Twenty one people became ill between June 1 and June 13; and 42 people became ill between July 7 and July 24. What's not known is when as many as 150 people other people became ill and what it is that's making them sick. A food source has only been identified for illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug … [Read more...]
Cyclospora from Salad is Largest Food Poisoning Outbreak Since 2010
The Cyclospora outbreak,* which is fast approaching 500 illnesses, is the largest multi-state food poisoning outbreak since 2010 and ranks fourth largest among such outbreaks in the last five years. At least 486 cases of Cyclospora infection have been reported from 16 states. Twenty seven people have been hospitalized. Cases from two states, Iowa and Nebraska, which together have at least 236 cases, are considered part of the same outbreak. Because Cyclospora is so rare, health officials have generally considered clusters appearing during the same time frame linked. A case is considered part of this outbreak if it is a "laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infection in a person with onset of illness since June 2013 and no history of travel outside of the United States or Canada during the 14 … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Lawsuit Filed Today Alleges Illness from Olive Garden in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Our law firm has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a woman who contracted a Cyclospora infection (cyclosporiasis) after eating at the Olive Garden restaurant located at 367 Collins Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 5, 2013. The lawsuit was filed against Darden Corporation, a Florida corporation, and Taylor Fresh Foods, a Delaware corporation. According to the lawsuit, about 7 days after eating at the Cedar Rapids Olive Garden, the Iowa woman began suffering diarrhea, fatigue and cramping. She continued to suffer from symptoms of cyclosporiasis over the next week. She visited the emergency room three more times over the next several weeks. On July 9, 2013, over a month after eating at the Cedar Rapids Olive Garden, she was diagnosed with a cyclosporiasis. She was prescribed Bactrim to … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak: Where Else Was Taylor Farms Salad Served?
The Cyclospora outbreak investigation took two big steps forward last week when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that, following a lead from the health departments in Iowa and Nebraska, it traced the source of the Cyclospora outbreak in those states to pre-packaged foodservice salad from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in those sates. Together, Iowa and Nebraska account for 232 of the 442 cases of Cyclospora infection reported from 16 state health departments as of Friday. While the breakthroughs answer some questions, they raise others. For example, what about the 210 cases of Cyclospora infection in 14 other states? What was the cause of those illnesses? Why isn't it clear if they are linked to the Iowa/Nebraska outbreak? … [Read more...]
