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Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-persp...an-aug-19-2019
News Scan for Aug 19, 2019
More Cyclospora infections; Chinese H5N6 avian flu case
Filed Under:
Cyclospora; Foodborne Disease; Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Multistate Cyclospora outbreak linked to imported basil sickens 73 more
A multistate Cyclospora outbreak linked to fresh basil imported from Mexico has sickened 73 more people, increasing the total to 205 infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an Aug 15 update.
Though 11 states have reported related cases, all of the exposures occurred at restaurants in five states: Florida, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Five people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. The latest illness onset was Jul 18.
Last month the CDC reported a steep rise in the number of domestic illnesses involving Cyclospora cayetanensis, a parasite that is spread by eating food and drinking water contaminated with feces. Infection can cause profuse diarrhea that can last weeks to months. The CDC said additional clusters are under investigation to determine if they are linked to the basil-related outbreak.
So far, product distribution records suggest Siga Logistics de LL de CV of Morelos, Mexico, exported the basil that sick people ate, and a trace-back investigation is ongoing to find the contamination source.
The Mexican importer recalled the potentially affected basil on Jul 24, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The CDC has urged consumers who have fresh basil from the company in their homes not to eat it and to throw it away. It also advises importers, restaurants, and others to not sell, serve, or distribute the company's fresh basil.
Domestic and travel-associated Cyclospora cases typically arise in the summer. Outbreaks in the past have been linked to imported fresh produce such as raspberries, basil, cilantro, and snow peas.
Aug 15 CDC outbreak update
Aug 16 FDA update
Jul 26 CIDRAP News story "Multistate outbreak tied to basil part of Cyclospora surge"
China reports H5N6 avian flu infection in Beijing woman
China has reported a new H5N6 avian flu case, involving a 59-year-old woman from Beijing who is hospitalized in critical condition, according to a statement today from the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP).
The woman was hospitalized on Aug 11, and the report did not say how she was exposed to the virus.
H5N6 has been identified in poultry outbreaks in China and a handful of other Asian nations, but China is the only country that has reported human cases, which are often severe or fatal.
With the new illness, China has now reported 24 cases. The country reported its last H5N6 infection in November, which involved a 10-year-old girl from the city of Suzhou in Jiangsu province.
Aug 19 CHP statement
News Scan for Aug 19, 2019
More Cyclospora infections; Chinese H5N6 avian flu case
Filed Under:
Cyclospora; Foodborne Disease; Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Multistate Cyclospora outbreak linked to imported basil sickens 73 more
A multistate Cyclospora outbreak linked to fresh basil imported from Mexico has sickened 73 more people, increasing the total to 205 infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an Aug 15 update.
Though 11 states have reported related cases, all of the exposures occurred at restaurants in five states: Florida, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Five people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. The latest illness onset was Jul 18.
Last month the CDC reported a steep rise in the number of domestic illnesses involving Cyclospora cayetanensis, a parasite that is spread by eating food and drinking water contaminated with feces. Infection can cause profuse diarrhea that can last weeks to months. The CDC said additional clusters are under investigation to determine if they are linked to the basil-related outbreak.
So far, product distribution records suggest Siga Logistics de LL de CV of Morelos, Mexico, exported the basil that sick people ate, and a trace-back investigation is ongoing to find the contamination source.
The Mexican importer recalled the potentially affected basil on Jul 24, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The CDC has urged consumers who have fresh basil from the company in their homes not to eat it and to throw it away. It also advises importers, restaurants, and others to not sell, serve, or distribute the company's fresh basil.
Domestic and travel-associated Cyclospora cases typically arise in the summer. Outbreaks in the past have been linked to imported fresh produce such as raspberries, basil, cilantro, and snow peas.
Aug 15 CDC outbreak update
Aug 16 FDA update
Jul 26 CIDRAP News story "Multistate outbreak tied to basil part of Cyclospora surge"
China reports H5N6 avian flu infection in Beijing woman
China has reported a new H5N6 avian flu case, involving a 59-year-old woman from Beijing who is hospitalized in critical condition, according to a statement today from the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP).
The woman was hospitalized on Aug 11, and the report did not say how she was exposed to the virus.
H5N6 has been identified in poultry outbreaks in China and a handful of other Asian nations, but China is the only country that has reported human cases, which are often severe or fatal.
With the new illness, China has now reported 24 cases. The country reported its last H5N6 infection in November, which involved a 10-year-old girl from the city of Suzhou in Jiangsu province.
Aug 19 CHP statement