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...]
Cyclospora: Outbreak and Symptoms Go On and On
At least 495 people in 30 states have been sickened with with parasitic infections from food contaminated with Cyclospora. Cilantro imported from Mexico has been identified as the source of illness clusters in Texas and Wisconsin. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source in the remaining 28 states. In three states: Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia, illnesses have been linked to food served at restaurants. But health officials have not released the names of those establishments. Cyclosporiasis, the infection caused by the Cyclospora parasite, causes profuse, often explosive, diarrhea that can last two months or more. Other symptoms, which can also last more than 60 days, include abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body … [Read more...]
Austin, Travis County Texas Hit Hard by Cyclospora
Austin and other cities in Travis County, Texas have been hard hit by a Cyclospora outbreak this summer. More than 70 people in Travis County have been sickened by the rare parasite that causes an infection called cyclosporiasis. Cyclospora is a parasite that lives in tropical and subtropical regions. For the last two years Texans have been sickened by cilantro imported from Mexico that was contaminated with Cyclospora. Many of them became ill after visiting restaurants where they ate items containing the contaminated ingredient. Produce can become contaminated with Cyclospora through unsanitary conditions at any point from its journey from farm to table. It is difficult to remove Cyclospora by washing produce, but cooking it will kill the parasite. The main symptom of … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak in Austin/Travis Counties, Texas
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is investigating a cyclospora outbreak in Texas. As of June 23, 2015, there are 15 confirmed and probable cases and 11 new cases under investigation. In the past week, 42 cases have been reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Cyclospora is a parasite that is spread when food or water is contaminated with feces. It is not spread person-to-person, since the parasite needs to develop to become infectious again. People can become infected with this microscopic organism by drinking water or eating food that contains the spores. Time between exposure and illness is usually about 7 days. Cyclospora attacks the small intestine and causes watery diarrhea, with frequent, sometimes explosive,bowel movements. Other … [Read more...]
Multistate Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 202 People
According to Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), there is a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora going on right now that has sickened at least 202 people in 19 states. Last year a huge Cyclospora outbreak sickened at least 621 people in 25 states. Some of those cases were never solved; one group was linked to produce imported from Mexico. There have been 77 more cases reported in the last week. More than half of the cases are in Texas, which has 110 of the ill persons. The counties affected in Texas include Dallas (21 cases), Tarrant (11 cases), and Harris (8 cases), among others. Six more states reported cases, which brings the total of affected states to 19, along with New York City. The latest states to report cases are Michigan, Minnesota, … [Read more...]
MMWR Notes From the Field on the Cyclospora Outbreak
The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) has released its report on the cyclospora outbreak that sickened more than 600 people in the U.S. this summer. During June through August 2013, there were 643 cases of the parasitic disease reported from 25 states. Texas had the most cases with 278, followed by Iowa at 153 and Nebraska at 86. By comparison, in 2012 there were 123 cases of cyclosporiasis in the United States for the whole year. In Iowa and Nebraska, the outbreak was linked to salads imported from Mexico by Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants. But the Texas outbreak stumped public health officials for weeks. The CDC worked with state and local doctors and researchers in Texas to investigate the outbreak in that state. They … [Read more...]
Texas Cyclospora Illnesses Linked To Cilantro From Restaurants and Grocery Store
Cyclospora on Cilantro imported from Mexico sickened 30 people who ate at a Mexican-style restaurant in Fort Bend County, Texas, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health investigators also identified illness clusters associated with two other Texas restaurants and one grocery store. The agency has not released the names of the restaurants or the store, which is located in North Texas. Shopper card information revealed that four people who were sickened had all purchased fresh cilantro within three days of each other. The purchases were made seven to 10 days before they became ill, which is consistent with the incubation period for cyclosporiasis, the infection caused by the Cyclospora parasite. In interviews with the 278 Texans … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Cyclospora Outbreak; Fresh Cilantro Suspected
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the Cyclospora outbreak in the US. This is the first update since September 24, 2013, just before the government shutdown. There has been no change in the case count; 643 people have been sickened in 25 states. Forty-five people have been hospitalized in this outbreak; there have been no deaths and no recall was associated with any product. Public health officials believe the outbreak is over. The case count is as follows: Texas (278), Iowa (153), Nebraska (86), Florida (32), Wisconsin (17), Arkansas (13), Illinois (13), New York City (7), Georgia (5), Missouri (5), Kansas (4), New Jersey (4), Louisiana (3), Massachusetts (3), Minnesota (3), Ohio (3), Virginia (3), Connecticut (2), New York (2), California (1), … [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...]
At Least 480 Sickened in Nationwide Cyclospora Outbreak
At least 480 people in 16 states have been sickened in the nationwide Cyclospora outbreak as of August 6, 2013. The CDC is reporting 467 sickened, but they do not have the latest numbers from Texas, which indicate 171 illnesses. At least 27 people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported. The outbreak count by state is: Texas (171), Iowa (151), Nebraska (85), Florida (25), Wisconsin (12), Illinois (9), New York City (5), Georgia (4), Kansas (3), Louisiana(3), Arkansas (4), Missouri (3), Ohio (2), Connecticut (1), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), and New York (1). It is not yet clear whether all of the cases from all of the states are part of the same outbreak. The cases in Iowa and Nebraska have been linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico bagged salads served at Olive Garden … [Read more...]
