Update (July 6): The number of illnesses in this outbreak has risen to 113. The article below has been updated to reflect this new case count. For the third summer in a row, Texas is dealing with an outbreak of Cyclospora. At least 113 Texans have been hit with Cyclospora infections this year, as health authorities work to determine the cause, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. At least 101 of the illnesses have been confirmed in the last two weeks. No hospitalizations or deaths have been reported. The outbreak seems to be centered on Travis County, where Austin is located. Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite that causes symptoms such as watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea. It is most commonly spread through food and water contaminated by feces containing the parasite. Symptoms of a Cyclospora infection can take several days to a week to appear, making investigations into the cause of the outbreak especially difficult. If untreated, infections can last weeks or even months. In the summer of 2013 and again in 2014, Texans were sickened in large Cyclospora outbreaks, both times linked to fresh produce from Mexico. The 2013 outbreak sickened at least 469 people across 16 states, with Texas reporting 171 cases — the most of any state. That outbreak was at least partially linked to produce grown by Taylor Farms in Mexico and served at restaurant chains owned by Darden Restaurants, which operates Olive Garden and Red Lobster. In 2014, another Cyclospora outbreak sickened at least 126 people in Texas. Those illnesses were eventually traced back to fresh cilantro grown in Mexico. Officials at the Texas Department of Health Services say they’re investigating the cause of this summer’s outbreak. Food Safety News will continue to provide updates on the investigation as it progresses. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
