The FDA and CDC are investigating an outbreak of a kind of illness called cyclospora that is linked to fresh basil imported from Mexico. The outbreak across 11 states is linked to 205 illnesses, including five hospitalizations. The states affected are outbreak, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. People were exposed to the basil in restaurants in five of those states: Florida, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The basil was exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV in Mexico. The company recalled the basil in late July.
You should not buy, eat or serve any fresh basil exported from Mexico by the Siga Logistics company, the state Health Department said. If you don’t know what company exported it, avoid basil from Mexico. And if you don’t know where the basil came from, avoid it entirely.
“We are still working with the Centers for Disease Control and the FDA on traceback efforts,” the Health Department said in a statement.
The number of cases in New Jersey this year is double that of previous years, according to the Health Department. Of the 120 cases confirmed from May 21 through Monday, four patients were hospitalized. None of the patients had traveled outside the United States in the two weeks before they became sick. No deaths have been reported.
Last year, almost 2,300 cases were confirmed in 33 states from May through August. Several large outbreaks were reported. The largest involved prepackaged vegetable trays and salad sold at a fast-food chain.
The intestinal disease causes frequent loose stools, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, low-grade fever and fatigue. If left untreated, it can last a month. The illness can recur several times after periods of remission.
It is caused by food that has been contaminated with fecal matter containing the parasite. Scientists do not believe…
… it is passed from one person to another. The illness takes one to two weeks to develop. If you think you have the disease, see a health provider. It is usually treated with a combination of antibiotics.
The FDA strongly advises importers, suppliers, and distributors, as well as restaurants, retailers, and other food service providers to not sell, serve or distribute fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico. If you are uncertain of the source, do not sell, serve or distribute the fresh imported basil.
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