Summertime is the peak season for Cyclospora, a parasite that can cause food poisoning. Last summer, two Cyclospora outbreaks sickened hundreds of people. One of them was linked to Fresh Express salad sold at McDonald’s. The other was linked to Del Monte vegetable trays sold at Kwik Trip stores. This summer we are investigating reports of a large Cyclospora outbreak with possibly 80 or more sickened at the Cooper’s Hawk Winery in Jacksonville, FL.
People who develop Cyclospora infections suffer symptoms that, if untreated, can last more than two months. These symptoms include profuse, explosive diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, headache, fatigue, weight loss and other flu-like symptoms.
The McDonald’s Fresh Express outbreak sickened more than 500 people in 15 states. Most of the case-patients were from Midwestern states, Illinois had 273 illnesses, Iowa had 99. The food poisoning lawyers at Pritzker Hageman filed the first lawsuit on behalf of an Iowa patient. And they are representing more than half of the 250 people sickened in the Del Monte Kwik Trip outbreak.
Cyclospora is a parasite native to sub-tropical climates, but it makes its way to the U.S. during the summer months on imported produce. These food products get contaminated when they make contact with human or animal feces containing the parasitic eggs. After the tainted food is ingested, an infection, called cyclosporiasis develops within two to ten days.
The number of illness that occurred last summer was unusually high, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). During the peak season for Cyclospora in the U.S. which runs from May to September, the average total number of cases has historically been closer to 200. However, improved detection methods may be driving up the totals.
If you have been sickened by Cyclospora and would like a free consultation with our experienced Cyclospora Team, call 1 (888) 377-8900 (toll-free), send a text to 612-261-0856, or complete the form below. The call is free and there is no obligation.