Mexico Clears 16 Riviera Maya Hotels of Cyclospora

Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo — Mexican health authorities have ruled out the presence of the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis in samples taken from 16 hotels in the Riviera Maya, following a travel advisory issued by the United Kingdom over a rise in cases among tourists who had stayed at the properties.

The Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS), working with the General Directorate of Epidemiology, collected 32 samples of fruits and vegetables from hotel food bars and 11 samples of water for human use. The samples were analyzed using real-time PCR molecular methods at COFEPRIS’s national reference laboratory, the Commission for Analytical Control and Coverage Expansion (CCAYAC).

All samples tested negative for Cyclospora cayetanensis. The water samples also underwent basic microbiological and physicochemical testing to identify possible indicators of contamination.

“The Health Ministry, through COFEPRIS and the General Directorate of Epidemiology, maintains permanent surveillance, as traceability and follow-up are essential to protect the food chain and prevent future risks,” the agency said in a statement.