Mexico ruled out the presence of Cyclospora at 16 hotels in the Riviera Maya on Tuesday after investigations were launched following a report from British authorities concerning tourists who may have contracted the parasite while staying in the Mexican Caribbean.
The results were announced amid investigations in the United States into a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has caused two deaths and is believed to have been linked to Mexican lettuce. Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
The announcement was made by Mexico’s Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris), which said Tuesday that samples collected from fruits, vegetables, and water intended for human use at 16 Riviera Maya hotels tested negative for the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
According to the statement, the results indicate that sanitation and food-handling procedures at the 16 hotels examined were operating within safety standards. However, authorities did not provide further details or identify the hotels involved.
The Riviera Maya is one of Mexico’s major tourist destinations and receives tens of thousands of visitors from around the world every year.
British Authorities Report Increase in Cases
The UK Health Security Agency issued an alert earlier this month after detecting an increase in cyclosporiasis cases among travelers who had returned from vacations in Cancún and the Riviera Maya, in the southern state of Quintana Roo.
Between April and mid-July, British authorities reported 67 cases of cyclosporiasis, 48 of which involved people who had visited Mexico.
Cofepris confirmed 33 cases of cyclosporiasis in 13 of Mexico’s 32 states last week. However, authorities said the cases did not constitute an outbreak like the one reported in the United States, where more than 18,000 confirmed cases have been reported so far.
How Is Cyclospora Transmitted?
The parasite infects the intestines and spreads through fecal contamination. Specialists have determined that people can become infected by consuming fruits or vegetables that were exposed to irrigation water contaminated with fecal matter.
U.S. investigators initially focused on lettuce served by the Taco Bell restaurant chain. They later turned their attention to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, which is grown and processed at the company’s facility in the Mexican state of Guanajuato.
A Cofepris investigation ruled out the presence of the parasite at the Mexican facility.
Two Deaths Reported in Michigan
Health authorities in Michigan confirmed last week that two people had died as a result of the cyclosporiasis outbreak, making them the first two confirmed deaths in the United States associated with the parasite.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said both individuals had underlying health conditions that could have been worsened by the intestinal illness and resulting dehydration.
The investigations in Mexico, the United States, and the United Kingdom continue as health authorities work to determine the source and extent of the reported cases.
Source: mcall
