An outbreak of ''locally acquired'' Cyclospora infections is being investigated by Canadian public health officials. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), there are currently 51 confirmed cases in four provinces, and one person has been hospitalized.
The source of the illnesses has not yet been identified, although PHAC stated that “imported fresh produce products are currently items of interest in the ongoing investigation.”
So far, a total of 51 cases have been reported in Canada. They are in British Columbia (1), Alberta (2), Ontario (44), and Quebec (4).
These individuals became ill between May and July 2016, PHAC stated. The majority of people sickened are male (51 percent), with an average age of 49.
The investigation into the source of the outbreak is ongoing. To date, no multi-jurisdictional outbreaks of Cyclospora have been linked to produce grown in Canada, the agency stated.
Previous foodborne illness outbreaks of Cyclospora infection in Canada and the U.S. have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, such as pre-packaged salad mix, basil, cilantro, raspberries, blackberries, mesclun lettuce and snow and snap peas.
Cyclospora is a microscopic single-celled parasite that is passed in human feces. If it comes into contact with food or water, it can infect the people who consume it. This causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis.
According to PHAC, Cyclospora is not common on food and is not in drinking water in Canada. The parasite is most common in some tropical and subtropical countries such as Peru, Cuba, India, Nepal, Mexico, Guatemala, Southeast Asia and Dominican Republic.
