An outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to fresh basil imported from Mexico has ended after sickening 241 people from 11 states, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Six people were hospitalized.
Cyclospora is a parasite native to subtropical climates and infections are often associated with travel outside the U.S. But over the last decade, an increasing number of outbreaks have been linked to imported produce.
These outbreaks occur when produce contaminated with microscopic amounts of fecal matter containing Cyclospora is ingested. The hallmark of a Cyclospora infection is profuse diarrhea that is often explosive and watery. Other symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea, headache, fatigue, weight loss and other flu-like symptoms.
Last summer, two multi-state Cyclospora outbreaks were linked to imported produce. One was linked to salads sold at McDonald’s, the other was linked to Del Monte vegetable trays sold at Kwik Trip stores. And in July 2019, an outbreak at Cooper’s Hawk restaurant in Jacksonville, FL sickened between 80 and 100 people. Pritzker Hageman attorneys filed the first Cyclospora lawsuit in that outbreak.
If you have been sickened by Cyclospora, contact our experienced, award-winning Cyclospora Team for a free consultation. Call 1 (888) 377-8900 (toll-free), send a text to 612-261-0856 or complete the form below. The consultation is free and we don’t get paid unless we win.