A 2023 Cyclospora outbreak occurred after an unlicensed distributor shipped tainted cilantro to a Mexican-style restaurant in Alabama, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak, which sickened 47 people, was one of three simultaneous Cyclospora outbreaks that summer.
Do You Need a Cyclospora Lawyer?
Symptoms of Cyclospora
Cyclospora is a parasite native to tropical climates, and humans are its only known reservoir. People get cyclosporiasis when they consume food or water contaminated with human feces containing the parasite.
In the U.S. and Canada, non-travel-related cases are often linked to imported produce such as cilantro, basil, salad greens, vegetables, and berries.
The primary symptom of a Cyclospora infection is diarrhea, often described as explosive and watery. Other symptoms include nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. These symptoms can appear within 1 to 14 days of exposure. Without treatment, cyclosporiasis symptoms can last for months.
Alabama Cyclospora Outbreak
The 47 people sickened in this outbreak visited the restaurant between May 20 and June 6 and developed diarrhea 2–14 days after their meal date. Thirty-eight cases were laboratory-confirmed. Of those, the CDC successfully genotyped 29, and most had cluster codes suggesting they were genetically related and likely linked to the same source, according to the report.
Investigators used epidemiologic, laboratory, environmental, and traceback evidence to determine that cilantro was the food item that made people sick and where it was grown.
Through these efforts, investigators determined that “a domestic distributor without an identified manufacturing license” shipped the tainted cilantro to the restaurant. “These findings highlight the need for active disease surveillance by public health teams, regulatory oversight of food distributors, and focused educational initiatives for both distributors and restaurants to reduce future risk of distribution of contaminated products,” the researchers concluded.
Experienced Cyclospora Lawyers
Pritzker Hageman Cyclospora lawyers have represented clients sickened in every major Cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. To request a free consultation about your potential case, please call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or complete the form below.