Amid reports of a parasite outbreak (Cyclospora) that has sickened people in several states across the U.S., a Houston Methodist pathologist warns that it is likely linked to a widely distributed commercial food product.
Dr. Wesley Long, medical director of microbiology and pathology informatics and an associate professor of pathology and genomic medicine, said this is typically the time of year when Cyclospora cases increase in the United States, and the pattern suggests the outbreak is likely linked to a widely distributed commercial food product.
“Historically, these outbreaks have often been associated with fresh produce such as herbs, leafy greens and berries,” he said. “Because cases are being reported across multiple states, investigators will likely focus on foods that were distributed nationally and may have become contaminated during harvesting, processing or packaging.”
Challenging pathogen
Long said that one of the challenges in investigating Cyclospora outbreaks is that symptoms often don’t appear until 1-2 weeks after exposure, making it difficult for people to remember exactly what they ate.
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“Herbs can be particularly challenging to trace because they’re frequently used as ingredients in prepared foods, sauces and restaurant dishes,” he said. “Another complicating factor is that Cyclospora is resistant to the chlorine-based sanitizers commonly used in produce processing, which means contaminated produce can sometimes reach consumers despite routine washing and sanitation measures.”
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