Cyclosporiasis—an intestinal infection caused by the parasite *Cyclospora cayetanensis*—has put the United States on alert due to an outbreak involving over 3,000 cases across 30 states.
For this reason, the Ministry of Health has issued an alert for Mexicans traveling to that country.
While there is currently no evidence of cases within Mexico, specialists emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant and taking precautions to prevent infection.
Since this condition is not transmitted from person to person but rather through the consumption of food contaminated by the parasite, the primary preventive measure remains avoiding water or food contaminated with feces—most commonly fresh fruits and vegetables.
Although the specific source of the U.S. outbreak has not yet been pinpointed, a list of foods suspected of causing the infection has been identified, as they are prone to carrying the parasite.
According to information regarding the recent cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States, the foods posing the highest risk of infection are primarily fresh, raw produce—especially leafy greens.
Lettuce (particularly bagged salad mixes and green leaf lettuce)
Fresh herbs such as cilantro and basil
Berries (raspberries and other fruits with uneven surfaces)
Onion, cilantro, and other fresh ingredients used in mixtures like ‘pico de gallo’ and guacamole
Other leafy greens such as spinach, watercress, or kale. Investigations by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA have not yet identified a specific food item or supplier as the source of the current outbreak; however, the patterns are consistent with previous outbreaks in which the foods mentioned above—particularly lettuce and cilantro—were identified as primary vehicles for the ‘Cyclospora cayetanensis’ parasite.
