The FDA has updated the basil cyclospora outbreak that has now sickened at least 205 people in 11 states. That’s an increase of 73 patients since the last update which was posted on July 25, 2019. Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The basil in question is imported from Mexico by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos. That facility recalled basil on July 24, 2019.
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On July 25, the FDA announced an investigation into a Cyclospora outbreak linked to imported fresh basil by Siga Logistics from Mexico. Siga
The FDA is recommending consumers not to buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics and not to consume or serve uncooked items such as pesto or salad that may contain basil from Mexico.
Cyclospora is a parasite composed of one cell, too small to be seen without a microscope.
Publix has posted this recall announcement on their website, regarding Rock Garden Organic Basil. The product is being recalled for possible cyclospora contamination. It was sold at Publix and GreenWise Market.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses potentially linked to fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico.
What’s the connection? Some clusters linked to restaurants and some clusters linked to basil.
The number of reported cases of domestically acquired cyclosporiasis has increased from the previous month and remains elevated in the United States since May 1, 2019.
As of July 23, 2019, 580 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis were reported to CDC by 30 states, District of Columbia and New York City in people who became ill since May 1, 2019 and who had no history of international travel during the 14-day period before illness onset.The median illness onset date was June 24, 2019 (range: May 3—July 13, 2019).
At least 38 people were hospitalized; no deaths were reported.
The Minnesota Department of Health has identified 35 lab-confirmed cases of cyclospora that are associated with three Minnesota restaurants in different areas of the state. Basil is implicated in these illnesses, according to Doug Schultz, Information Officer for the DOH. This Minnesota cyclospora outbreak may be linked to the multistate cyclospora outbreak announced by the FDA yesterday, but we don’t know for sure. In the multi-state outbreak, 132 people in 11 states are sick.
This parasite is endemic to tropical and sub-tropical regions around the globe. People usually get sick when they visit those areas. But the parasite has made its way to the U.S. through contaminated produce. Previous outbreaks have been linked to raspberries, mesclun, cilantro, and basil.
Maryland state health officials report investigating an increase in Cyclospora cases in recent weeks from areas across the state. Thirty-seven of the 42 lab-confirmed cases reported between Jan.1 and July 20 have been reported over the last two weeks, part of an overall recent rise in reported cyclosporiasis cases in other parts of the U.S.
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is working with local, state and federal health officials to investigate the increase. No specific source for these cases has been identified.
Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos, Mexico to the United States.
The fresh basil from Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico is the subject of a multi-state outbreak investigation of Cyclospora illnesses potentially linked to fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico.
As of July 9, health official found 132 illnesses in ten states that are attributed to the outbreak. Four patients required hospitalization. Restaurants in Florida, Minnesota, New York and Ohio exposed patrons to the parasite.
Cyclospora is a parasite typically transmitted by contaminated food. Some areas, such as Massachusetts, are this year experiencing higher Cyclosproa case counts than normal. States with Cyclospora cases associated with the current outbreak are found in CT, FL, IA, MA, MN, NY, OH, RI, SC, and WI.
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The Boston cyclospora outbreak has now sickened more than 100 people, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Those reports of illness have come in since May 1, 2019. In a typical year in that state, about 18 to 33 people are infected with this parasite.
A cyclospora outbreak in Northern Virginia and the Arlington area has sickened at least 55 people, according to the Virginia Department of Health. This is a significant increase in cases reported since mid June 2019.
New York City health officials are advising clinicians to be on the alert for patients with diarrhea due to Cyclospora infection.
From the beginning of the year through July 15, officials report 90 cases, including 40 cases since the beginning of the month. Approximately 30 percent of patients have reported travel outside of the United States in the two weeks prior to symptom onset, primarily to Latin America.
This compares with 56 cases in 2018, and 43 cases in 2017 during the same time period.
Epidemiologic investigations are ongoing to determine if there is a possible common food source for cases with no travel outside of NYC.
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