CDC Reports 586 Cyclospora Infection Cases So Far

On June 28, 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified of two laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection in Iowa residents who had become ill in June and did not have a history of international travel during the 14 days before the onset of illness. Since that date, CDC has been collaborating with public health officials in multiple states and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an outbreak of cyclosporiasis.
 
As of Aug. 19, 2013, CDC has been notified of 586 ill persons with of Cyclospora infection from 20 states: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York (including New York City), Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Most of the illness onset dates have ranged from mid-June through mid-July. Among 440 ill persons with available information, 36 (8 percent) have reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

It is not yet clear whether the ill persons from all of the states are part of the same outbreak.

Nebraska and Iowa performed investigations within their states and concluded that restaurant-associated cases of Cyclospora infection in their states were linked to a salad mix. According to the FDA, a traceback investigation has confirmed that the salad mix identified by Iowa and Nebraska as being linked to the outbreak of cyclosporiasis in those states was supplied to Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in those states by Taylor Farms de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., a processor of foodservice salads.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether this conclusion applies to, or helps explain, the increase in ill persons with cyclosporiasis in other states.

On Aug. 12, 2013, Taylor Farms de Mexico officially informed FDA that, as of Aug. 9, 2013, the company had voluntarily suspended production and shipment of any salad mix, leafy green, or salad mix components from its operations in Mexico to the United States.

Source: CDC