CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to consumption of fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico.
As of August 15, 2019, a total of 205 people with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections associated with this outbreak have been reported from 11 states: CT (1), FL (50), GA (2), IA (2), MA (1), MN (33), NY (107), OH (3), RI (1), SC (1), and WI (4). Exposures were reported in 5 states (Florida, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin).
Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 10, 2019 to July 18, 2019. Ill people ranged in age from 15 to 98 years with a median age of 51 and 70% were female. Five (2%) people have been hospitalized. No deaths attributed to Cyclospora have been reported.
Illnesses might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 4 to 6 weeks. Please see the Timeline for Reporting Cases of Cyclospora Infection for more details.
There are typically multiple clusters of Cyclospora infections that occur during a given season. It is unknown at this time if other reported cases of Cyclospora infection in the United States this season are linked to fresh basil. This investigation is ongoing.
Investigation of the Outbreak
Epidemiologic evidence and early product distribution information indicate that fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico, is a likely source of this outbreak.
In interviews, ill people answered questions about the foods they ate and other exposures in the week before they became ill. An illness cluster is defined as two or more people who do not live in the same household who report eating at the same restaurant location, attending a common event, or shopping at the same location of a grocery store in the week before becoming ill. Investigating illness clusters provides critical clues about the source of an outbreak. If several unrelated ill people ate or shopped at the same location of a restaurant or store within several days of each other, it suggests that the contaminated food item was served or sold there. In this fresh basil-associated cluster, there were several situations in which people reported eating at the same restaurants.
The FDA and regulatory officials in several states are collecting records to determine the source of the fresh basil that ill people ate in the five affected states. Product distribution information available at this time indicates that the fresh basil that made people sick was exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico. This traceback investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination. Additional illness clusters are currently under investigation to determine if they are linked to fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico.
Consumers should not eat fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico, until we learn more about this outbreak. This investigation is ongoing, and CDC will provide updates when more information is available.
Outbreak by the Numbers
People infected with Cyclospora, and who reported eating basil by state of residence, as of August 15, 2019 (n=205). Data are preliminary and subject to change. Note that the Massachusetts and Connecticut case-patients were exposed in New York State; the Iowa, Rhode Island, and two Wisconsin case-patients were exposed in Minnesota; and the Georgia, South Carolina, one Wisconsin and two Minnesota case-patients were exposed in Florida.
*N=202. Data are current as of 8/15/19. Date of illness onset was not available for 3 cases. Data are preliminary and subject to change. Illnesses that started after 7/4/2019 might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 4 to 6 weeks
Onset Date |
Number of Cases |
6/10/2019 |
1 |
6/11/2019 |
0 |
6/12/2019 |
0 |
6/13/2019 |
0 |
6/14/2019 |
1 |
6/15/2019 |
3 |
6/16/2019 |
2 |
6/17/2019 |
3 |
6/18/2019 |
5 |
6/19/2019 |
9 |
6/20/2019 |
10 |
6/21/2019 |
5 |
6/22/2019 |
8 |
6/23/2019 |
9 |
6/24/2019 |
14 |
6/25/2019 |
22 |
6/26/2019 |
11 |
6/27/2019 |
12 |
6/28/2019 |
8 |
6/29/2019 |
6 |
6/30/2019 |
9 |
7/1/2019 |
11 |
7/2/2019 |
8 |
7/3/2019 |
12 |
7/4/2019 |
3 |
7/5/2019 |
8 |
7/6/2019 |
6 |
7/7/2019 |
3 |
7/8/2019 |
2 |
7/9/2019 |
2 |
7/10/2019 |
1 |
7/11/2019 |
2 |
7/12/2019 |
2 |
7/13/2019 |
1 |
7/14/2019 |
0 |
7/15/2019 |
1 |
7/16/2019 |
0 |
7/17/2019 |
1 |
7/18/2019 |
1 |
7/19/2019 |
0 |
7/20/2019 |
0 |
7/21/2019 |
0 |
7/22/2019 |
0 |
7/23/2019 |
0 |
7/24/2019 |
0 |
7/25/2019 |
0 |
7/26/2019 |
0 |
7/27/2019 |
0 |
7/28/2019 |
0 |
7/29/2019 |
0 |
7/30/2019 |
0 |
7/31/2019 |
0 |
8/1/2019 |
0 |
8/2/2019 |
0 |
8/3/2019 |
0 |
8/4/2019 |
0 |
8/5/2019 |
0 |
8/6/2019 |
0 |
8/7/2019 |
0 |
8/8/2019 |
0 |
8/9/2019 |
0 |
8/10/2019 |
0 |
8/11/2019 |
0 |
8/12/2019 |
0 |
8/13/2019 |
0 |
8/14/2019 |
0 |
8/15/2019 |
0 |