Mexico Health Secretary Says No Active Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

Mexico City — Mexico’s Health Secretary David Kershenobich said Thursday that 33 cyclosporiasis cases detected across the country do not constitute an active outbreak, and he urged the public to remain calm.

In a video posted on social media, Kershenobich said the cases were identified between May 25 and July 31 across 13 states. “This frequency equals 0.00002 percent of the population,” he said. “In other words, we do not have an active outbreak in Mexico.”

Cyclospora is a parasite found worldwide and occurs recurrently, he explained. “Every year some cases are recorded in our country without this constituting an outbreak or a signal of alarm.”

Following recent international reports of cyclosporiasis cases in the United States and among travelers from the United Kingdom who visited Mexico, the Health Ministry activated investigation and sanitary and epidemiological surveillance protocols, the secretary said. The effort is being carried out through the Directorate of Epidemiology and the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris), in collaboration with the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica).

“So far, samples analyzed by Mexico and the United States have not identified the presence of Cyclospora cayetanensis in the packing facility under investigation in Guanajuato,” Kershenobich said. “Studies being conducted at hotels in Quintana Roo are in progress, and results will be announced once they conclude.”

The secretary noted that person-to-person transmission of cyclospora is uncommon, with the main risk coming from eating contaminated fruits, vegetables, or drinking contaminated water.

He recommended washing fruits and vegetables with clean, potable water before consuming, peeling, or cooking them. “Heat destroys the parasite,” he stressed. He also advised washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before handling food and after using the restroom, and drinking bottled, boiled, or purified water.