Multistate US Cyclospora spike tops 200 cases

The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota reports that several states noted Cyclospora infections over the past week, pushing the total to 202, and health officials are still on the hunt for a common food source for some of the infections.

love.boat.cyclosporaThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 202 cases have been reported as of today, an increase of 77 from the past week. More than half of the cases were in Texas, which saw its total grow by 49 cases over the past week, to 110.

Six more states reported illnesses, raising the number of affected states from 13 to 19, with New York City also reporting cases. The latest states to report cases are California, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Last week the CDC said outbreak investigations were under way in Texas, Maine, and Massachusetts and that federal officials were assisting state partners in their investigations.

Foodborne Cyclospora outbreaks have been reported in the United States since the mid 1990s and have been linked to many kinds of imported fresh produce, including raspberries, basil, snow peas, and mesclun.

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About Douglas Powell

A former professor of food safety and the publisher of barfblog.com, Powell is passionate about food, has five daughters, and is an OK goaltender in pickup hockey. Download Doug’s CV here. Dr. Douglas Powell editor, barfblog.com retired professor, food safety 3/289 Annerley Rd Annerley, Queensland 4103 dpowell29@gmail.com 61478222221 I am based in Brisbane, Australia, 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time