Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Investigations — United States, 2015
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CDC and federal, state, and local public health partners are investigating an increase in reported cases of Cyclospora infection.
Highlights
At a Glance
- Case Count: 546
- States: 31
- Deaths: 0
- Hospitalizations: 21
- Recall: No
- Read the related statement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Read the Advice to Consumers
- Cyclospora cayetanensis is a single-celled parasite that causes an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis.
- As of September 14, 2015 (3pm EDT), CDC had been notified of 546 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection from 31 states in 2015.
- Most of these persons—319 (58%) of 546—experienced onset of illness on or after May 1, 2015, and did not have a history of international travel within 2 weeks before illness onset. These 319 persons were from the following 23 states: Arkansas (3), California (2), Connecticut (5), Florida (13), Georgia (26),
Illinois (9), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (12), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), Montana (3), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (7), New Mexico (2), New York (excluding NYC) (10), New York City (22), North Carolina (1), Texas (179), Utah (1), Virginia (3), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (11).
More Information
- Cyclospora Information
- Investigating Foodborne Outbreaks
- Advanced Molecular Detection for Cyclospora
- Time to Think About Cyclosporiasis (Medscape)
- CDC: Cyclosporiasis COCA Call/Webinar (for health-care providers)
- FDA: U.S.-Mexico Partnership Enhances the Safety of Fresh Cilantro
(Coriandrum sativum)
- Clusters of illness linked to restaurants or events have been identified in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia.
- Cluster investigations are ongoing in Texas and Georgia.
- Cluster investigations in Wisconsin and Texas have preliminarily identified cilantro as a suspect vehicle.
- Investigations are ongoing to identify specific food
item(s) linked to the cases that are not part of the identified clusters.
- Most of these persons—319 (58%) of 546—experienced onset of illness on or after May 1, 2015, and did not have a history of international travel within 2 weeks before illness onset. These 319 persons were from the following 23 states: Arkansas (3), California (2), Connecticut (5), Florida (13), Georgia (26),
- Previous U.S. outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to imported fresh produce, including cilantro from the Puebla region of Mexico. Read the related FDA Import Alert.
- Consumers should continue to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a well-balanced diet.
- Consumers and retailers should always follow safe produce handling recommendations.
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Case Count Maps
- More information about Cyclospora can be found on CDC's Cyclospora pages.
Epi Curves
Progression of the Outbreak Investigation
September Updates
September 15, 2015
Case Count Update
As of September 14, 2015 (3pm EDT), a total of 546 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection were reported to CDC in 2015. Most of these persons—319 (58%) of 546—experienced onset of illness on or after May 1, 2015, and did not have a history of international travel within 2 weeks before illness onset. These 319 persons were from the following 23 states: Arkansas (3), California (2), Connecticut (5), Florida (13), Georgia (26), Illinois (9), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (12), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), Montana (3), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (7), New Mexico (2), New York (excluding NYC) (10), New York City (22), North Carolina (1), Texas (179), Utah (1), Virginia (3), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (11). Clusters of illness linked to restaurants or events have been identified and investigated in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Epidemiologic and traceback investigations conducted in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia by state and local public health and regulatory officials and the FDA indicated that some illnesses among residents in these states were linked to fresh cilantro from Puebla, Mexico. The vehicle(s) of infection for non-cluster-associated cases has not been identified. The numbers of reported cases of cyclosporiasis in the United States have returned to baseline levels.
More information about Cyclospora can be found on CDC’s Cyclospora pages.
August Updates
August 25, 2015
Case Count Update
As of August 21, 2015 (3pm EDT), a total of 495 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection were reported to CDC in 2015. Most of these persons—293 (59%) of 495—experienced onset of illness on or after May 1, 2015, and did not have a history of international travel within 2 weeks before illness onset. These 293 persons were from the following 23 states: Arkansas (3), California (2), Connecticut (3), Florida (10), Georgia (23), Illinois (8), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (10), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), Montana (3), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (2), New York (excluding NYC) (9), New York City (21), North Carolina (1), Texas (168), Utah (1), Virginia (3), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (10). Clusters of illness linked to restaurants or events have been identified in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Cluster investigations are ongoing in Texas and Georgia. Cluster investigations in Wisconsin and Texas have preliminarily identified cilantro as a suspect vehicle. Investigations are ongoing to identify specific food item(s) linked to the cases that are not part of the identified clusters.
August 18, 2015
Case Count Update
As of August 17, 2015 (3pm EDT), a total of 476 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection were reported to CDC in 2015. Most of these persons—282 (59%) of 476—experienced onset of illness on or after May 1, 2015, and did not have a history of international travel within 2 weeks before illness onset. These 282 persons were from the following 22 states: Arkansas (2), California (2), Connecticut (3), Florida (10), Georgia (23), Illinois (7), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (9), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), Montana (3), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (2), New York (excluding NYC) (8), New York City (21), Texas (162), Utah (1), Virginia (3), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (10). Clusters of illness linked to restaurants or events have been identified in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Cluster investigations are ongoing in Texas and Georgia. Cluster investigations in Wisconsin and Texas have preliminarily identified cilantro as a suspect vehicle. Investigations are ongoing to identify specific food item(s) linked to the cases that are not part of the identified clusters.
August 11, 2015
Case Count Update
As of August 10, 2015 (3pm EDT), a total of 457 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection were reported to CDC in 2015. Most of these persons—275 (60%) of 457—experienced onset of illness on or after May 1, 2015, and did not have a history of international travel within 2 weeks before illness onset. These 275 persons were from the following 22 states: Arkansas (2), California (2), Connecticut (3), Florida (11), Georgia (22), Illinois (6), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (9), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), Montana (3), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (1), New York (excluding NYC) (8), New York City (21), Texas (157), Utah (1), Virginia (3), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (10). Clusters of illness linked to restaurants or events have been identified in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Cluster investigations are ongoing in Texas and Georgia. Cluster investigations in Wisconsin and Texas have preliminarily identified cilantro as a suspect vehicle. Investigations are ongoing to identify specific food item(s) linked to the cases that are not part of the identified clusters.
August 4, 2015
Case Count Update
As of August 3, 2015 (4pm EDT), a total of 384 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection were reported to CDC in 2015. Most (226; 59%) ill persons reported onset of illness on or after May 1, 2015 and no international travel. Clusters of illness linked to restaurants or events have been identified in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Cluster investigations are ongoing in Texas and Georgia. Cluster investigations in Wisconsin and Texas have preliminarily identified cilantro as a suspect vehicle. Investigations are ongoing to identify specific food item(s) linked to the cases that are not part of the identified clusters.
More information about Cyclospora can be found on CDC’s Cyclospora pages.
INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
July 31, 2015
As of July 30, 2015 (11am EDT), a total of 358 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection were reported to CDC in 2015. Most (199; 56%) ill persons reported onset of illness on or after May 1, 2015 and no international travel. Clusters of illness linked to restaurants or events have been identified in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Cluster investigations are ongoing in Texas and Georgia. Cluster investigations in Wisconsin and Texas have preliminarily identified cilantro as a suspect vehicle. Investigations are ongoing to identify specific food item(s) linked to the cases that are not part of the identified clusters.
More information about Cyclospora can be found on CDC’s Cyclospora pages.
- Page last reviewed: June 3, 2016
- Page last updated: June 3, 2016
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