Maine is now part of the nationwide outbreak of the intestinal parasite Cyclospora linked to Mexican-produced iceberg lettuce, the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Friday, with 27 confirmed and probable cases in the state.
[RELATED: Cyclospora Outbreak Spreads Across U.S. as Federal Officials Trace Major Cluster to Mexican Lettuce…]
The Maine CDC confirmed that the new number of cases meets the national definition for including Maine in the multistate outbreak.
The Maine CDC told Maine clinics to test for cyclosporiasis in patients experiencing severe or prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms.
The food-borne parasite can cause symptoms such as watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss, and, in some cases, can result in hospitalization and, in rare cases, death.
Nationwide, there have been 10,468 confirmed cases, 517 hospitalizations, and two recorded deaths associated with the outbreak.
The national CDC has identified the source of the outbreak as contaminated iceberg lettuce produced at Taylor Farms de Mexico, a central Mexican farm, and has issued a recall for that farm’s products.
Ten of Maine’s confirmed cases have been directly linked to the lettuce.
Mainers are urged to thoroughly wash produce to reduce the risk of infection, even if the produce is labeled as being pre-washed.
Oh yeah right !
This has probably been going on for weeks .
Maine CDC was just finally given the ok to report it .
NO AGENCY in Maine does ANYTHING without first getting the ok from Janet Mills .
Janet rules this state with an iron fist .
Just wait till Horrible Hanna calls the shots ! You ain’t seen nothin yet !
Where?
Gees just because you get kicked out of the country you invaded is no reason to crap on our lettuce. Sore looser.