Health officials in Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois and Kansas continue to investigate an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness caused by Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite.

Wisconsin health officials say there are four cases here, in Brown, Grant, and Milwaukee counties.

The number of people reporting a food-borne intestinal illness believed to have come from a contaminated vegetable has climbed to 63 cases in Nebraska, including 37 in Douglas County.

In Iowa 109 people in 31 counties were confirmed sick as of Thursday.

48 cases have been reported in Texas this past week alone, officials said Thursday.  Most reports come from the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  Today that total reached 56.

Illinois reports 2 cases and Kansas 1.

Thus far the source is unknown although it is suspected to be a common vegetable that was consumed in June.  Do past Cyclospora outbreaks reported by Outbreak Database help shed light on the possible cause of the present outbreak?

Georgia Aquarium Catered Food Unknown 2011  On October 1, an outbreak investigation was revealed in Georgia. At least 100 people became ill after eating at three separate, catered events held at the Georgia Aquarium in late July. The caterer was Wolfgang Puck catering. The common foods serv…Read More »

Big Sisters Chef’s Challenge Fundraising Event Cool Pesto Crunch Appetizer 2010  An outbreak of Cyclosporiasis occurred among people who attended a fundraiser for the Big Sisters’ organization in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. All who became ill had eaten the Cool Pesto Crunch, an appetizer that contained fresh basil. The appetizer w…Read More »

Connecticut Private Home Blackberries, Raspberries 2009  A confirmed outbreak of Cyclosporiasis occurred among people who had eaten blackberries or raspberries in a private home.…Read More »

Tennessee Banquet Facility Berries 2008  A confirmed outbreak of Cyclosporiasis occurred among people who had eaten berries while at a banquet facility in Tennessee. The type of berries was not described.…Read More »

California Workplace or Banquet Facility Mixed Berries 2008  A confirmed outbreak of Cyclosporiasis occurred among people who had eaten mixed berries at a workplace, or at a banquet facility, in California. The types of berries were not described.…Read More »

Puerto Rico Water System 2008  An outbreak of Cyclosporiasis was identified in rural Puerto Rico. Drinking water from the public drinking water system was the suggested vehicle. Whether the water system was a well, surface water, or treated water was not given. Water pressure r…Read More »

Wisconsin Private Home Green Peas 2008  A confirmed outbreak of Cyclosporiasis occurred among people who had eaten green peas while in a private home in Wisconsin. There was no description of whether the green peas were cooked or raw.…Read More »

Georgia Workplace Unknown 2006  A confirmed outbreak of Cyclosporiasis occurred among people who had eaten at a workplace in Georgia. The vehicle of infection was not described.…Read More »

Minnesota Restaurant Fruit Salad 2006  A confirmed outbreak of Cyclosporiasis occurred among people who had eaten fruit salad at a restaurant in Minnesota. The types of fruit in the salad were not described.…Read More »

New York Restaurant 2 Unknown 2006  A confirmed outbreak of Cyclosporiasis occurred among people who had eaten at a restaurant in New York. The vehicle of infection was not described.…Read More »

New Haven Restaurant 2005  In June, health department officials received reports of a cluster of cases with gastrointestinal illness. The first four reported cases had eaten at the same New Haven, Connecticut, restaurant between June 24 and 25. Stool samples showed all four …Read More »

Quebec Restaurant Fresh Basil 2005  An outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis was associated with eating fresh basil at a restaurant in Quebec. The basil originated from a Mexican farm and was used to prepare an uncooked appetizer.…Read More »

Chilton Club 2005  Visitors to the Chilton Club, in Massachusetts, became infected with the parasite, Cyclospora. The private club hosted a dinner lecture in April where over fifty people became infected. Health department officials were unable to pinpoint the food e…Read More »

Fresh Basil 2005  Florida health departments began receiving reports of gastroenteritis caused by cyclospora. The health department investigation was hindered by the long interval between ingestion and presentation of symptoms for this particular pathogen. Food ques…Read More »

Raw Guatemalan Snow Peas 2004  Raw, Guatemalan snow peas were served in various dishes at five different events at a residential facility and led to an outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis. No illnesses were attributable to other meals served at the facility. Pasta salad was the …Read More »

Restaurant Basil and Mesclun/Spring Mix Salad Products 2004  The Food & Drug Administration issued an alert to consumers about two outbreak clusters of gastrointestinal illness caused by Cyclospora. The first cluster, consisting of at least 57 cases, occurred in Wheaton, Illinois. The second cluster of 38 ca…Read More »