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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A cyclospora outbreak in the Boston area has sickened more than 80 people since May 2019, according to news reports. Dr. Larry Maddoff, medical director for the Bureau of Infectious Diseases and Laboratory Sciences at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health told Boston 25 News about this outbreak.
In its annual report summing up the latest trends with pathogens that are common sources of foodborne illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that the incidence of most illnesses increased in 2018, especially Cyclospora infections.
A team from the CDC and partners in 10 states that are part of the FoodNet surveillance network looked at levels for 2018 and compared them with levels for 2015 through 2017. The pathogens they tracked included Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Listeria, Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia. They published their findings today in the latest edition of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
In preliminary findings for 2018, the FoodNet system flagged 25,606 infections, 5,893 hospitalizations, and 120 deaths. They note that the incidence for most infections is rising, including Campylobacter and Salmonella. However, they added an important caveat that some of the increase might be partly due to the increased use of culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs), which can identify pathogens not regularly found by other testing methods — complicating data interpretation.
Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) are among the most consumed fishery products, but they are frequent vehicles of foodborne infection worldwide. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and seasonality of zoonotic protozoans in mussels farmed or sold at retail outlets in Italy. We collected and tested 1,440 M. galloprovincialis and 180 M. edulis. Pooled samples were molecularly tested for Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Toxoplasma gondii and then sequenced. Sixty-two (45.9%; 95% confidence interval, 37.5 to 54.3%) mussel pools tested positive for one or more of the investigated pathogens. Both Mytilus species and samples from all the investigated areas harbored pathogens. Mussels were statistically more contaminated by Cryptosporidium spp., followed by T. gondii and G. duodenalis assemblage A, and M. galloprovincialis was more contaminated than M. edulis (P < 0.01). Contamination was more likely in mussels at retail outlets (P < 0.05) than in those from farms and in mussels collected in spring (P < 0.01) than in other seasons. This is the first report of T. gondii found in M. galloprovincialis in Italy and in M. edulis in Europe. The detection of zoonotic protozoans in a widely consumed food source indicates the need for a more detailed microbiological risk analysis, especially considering that bivalve mollusks are often consumed raw worldwide.
A judge sitting at Manchester county court has ordered the disclosure of all documentary evidence relating to investigations carried out by Public Health England (PHE) surrounding cyclospora — a parasite spread by food contaminated with infected human faeces.
According to The Times, many customers claimed Tui did not tell them the Riviera Maya region of Mexico was subject to a public health warning due to cyclosporiasis before they booked.
This is in spite of 359 of the 440 British cases reported between June and October 2016 “involving travel to Mexico”, it is claimed.
Others customers allege they were handed a warning letter “only after their plane landed”.
Tui told TTG it would be inappropriate to comment on the legal process, but added: “We’d like to reassure customers that we regularly audit all of the hotels we feature in respect of health and safety.”
The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis illnesses likely linked to salads from McDonald’s restaurants.
Update – August 23, 2018
As of August 23, 2018, a total of 507 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection were reported in people who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants; the cases were reported by 15 states and New York City. The investigation is ongoing and the FDA is currently reviewing distribution and supplier information for romaine and carrots.
Recommendations
Consumers who have symptoms of cyclosporiasis should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.
Public Health England (PHE), Public Health Wales (PHW), Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and the Health Protection Service Northern Ireland (HPSNI) are investigating an increase in cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection in travellers who have recently returned from Mexico. This is the fourth successive year since 2015 that cases of the infection have been reported in travellers returning from Mexico.
As of 3 August 2018, 63 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis have been reported in England, Scotland and Wales. Where information is available, 55 (87%) report travel outside the UK, of which 49 (89%) report recent travel to Mexico. Where information is available, cases have stayed at several different hotels in the Cancun and Riviera Maya region suggesting the source is likely to be a foodstuff that has been distributed to hotels throughout the region.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite that infects humans and other primates. Infection can cause diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, nausea, flatulence, loss of appetite, fatigue, low-grade fever and weight loss. Infection without symptoms is also reported. Infections in HIV positive people and those with other immune deficiencies can be more severe.
Infection is commonly derived from food or water contaminated by human faeces. The foods commonly involved are soft fruits such as raspberries and salad products such as coriander, basil and lettuce. The risk of infection presented by imported foods is considered to be low.
Advice for travellers on the prevention of Cyclospora is available from Health Protection Scotland: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/news/newsdetail.aspx?id=22743.
The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis illnesses likely linked to salads from McDonald’s restaurants.
Update – August 16, 2018
As of August 16, 2018, a total of 476 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection were reported in people who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants; the cases were reported by 15 states. The investigation is ongoing and the FDA is currently reviewing distribution and supplier information for romaine and carrots.
Recommendations
Consumers who have symptoms of cyclosporiasis should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.
Total Illnesses: 476
Hospitalizations: 21
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: 7/20/2018
States with Cases: CT, FL, IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, TN, VA, WI
Note: The Connecticut, Tennessee, and Virginia case-patients purchased salads while traveling in Illinois; the Florida case-patient purchased a salad while traveling in Kentucky
A cyclospora outbreak in Minnesota and Wisconsin is linked to Del Monte Vegetable Trays that are sold at Kwik Trip stores in the two states. The Wisconsin Department of Health services has released a bulletin about this outbreak.
Eleven people in Wisconsin and three people in Minnesota are sick. They reported purchasing a vegetable tray from a Kwik Trip location before they got sick. The trays contained broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip. They may have also been available at other locations.
Consumers should not eat these products: Del Monte Vegetable Tray (containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip) in 6 ounce packages, and Del Monte Vegetable Tray (containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip) in 12 ounce packages. Kwok Trip is cooperating with officials and have removed this product from their stores.
Cyclospora is a parasite that is usually found in developing countries. But in the summer months, there is almost always a cylospora outbreak in the U.S. Past outbreaks have been linked to snow peas, cilantro, raspberries, and mesclun.
CDC Final Report Hepatitis A – Townsend Farms
This particular outbreak appears to be over. However, Viral Hepatitis is still an important cause of human illness in the United States. More information about Viral Hepatitis, and steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection, can be found on the CDC Viral Hepatitis website.
These outbreaks appear to be over. More information about Cyclospora can be found on CDC’s Cyclospora pages.
CDC Report on More Foster Farms Salmonella Cases
As of October 29, 2013, a total of 362 persons infected with seven outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 21 states and Puerto Rico.
38% of ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Most ill persons (74%) have been reported from California.
Posted in CDC, Cyclospora, Death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hepatitis A, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Protozoan, Recall, Research, Salmonella, Toxin, Virus
Tagged cdc, CDC Final Report Cyclospora, CDC Viral Hepatitis, Salmonella Heidelberg, Townsend Farms, Viral Hepatitis
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