US authorities confirmed on Friday that cyclospora was detected at a Mexican agricultural facility identified as the source of the largest foodborne illness outbreak caused by the parasite in American history. The announcement follows the recent declaration by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that the outbreak, which infected approximately 13,000 individuals, has officially concluded.
During inspections conducted on Friday, FDA investigators located the parasite in two specific areas on the farm: a wastewater tank and a drainage ditch utilized for growing lettuce. While the presence of cyclospora was verified in these locations, officials stated that the exact mechanism by which the lettuce became contaminated remains unclear.
This really highlights the need for stricter water quality regulations on farms near the border.
Cyclospora sounds nasty. I hope everyone washes their produce thoroughly from now on.
I am never buying pre-packaged greens from that region again. Trust is gone.
Wait, so they found the parasite but don’t know exactly how the lettuce got contaminated? That seems like a major gap.
Thirteen thousand people is a terrifying number. Glad it is finally over, but how could this happen?