Almost 1,700 people have been sickened by food contaminated with Cyclospora this summer, many of them ate at restaurants. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 1,696 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported from 33 states and the District of Columbia this summer. Ninety-two people have been hospitalized.
At least 205 of these illnesses are part of a Cyclospora outbreak linked to basil imported from Mexico. The illnesses were reported among residents of 11 states who ate contaminated food in five states: NY, FL, MN, OH and WI. The case-patients, who range in age from 15 to 98 years old, reported onset of symptoms on dates ranging from June 10, 2019 to July 18, 2019.
Cyclospora is a parasite native to sub-tropical climates that is transmitted through contact with fecal matter. Symptoms include diarrhea that is often explosive and watery, abdominal cramps, nausea, headache, fatigue, weight loss and other flu-like symptoms.
After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that affected locations had a common basil supplier, Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico issued a recall at the agency’s request. Although the contaminated basil should no longer be on stores shelves, consumers and restaurants who have purchased basil from Mexico should check recall information carefully.
The Cyclospora lawyers at Pritzker Hageman have represented more clients in recent large-scale outbreaks than any other law firm in the U.S. If you have been sickened by contaminated food you ate at a restaurant, we want to help you. To request a free consultation, call 1 (888) 377-8900 (toll-free), send a text to 612-261-0856 or complete the form below.