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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that the Ministry of Health is conducting an epidemiological study to determine if any product originating from Mexico is related to the cyclosporiasis outbreak being investigated in the United States.
The president explained that the information released by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has changed during the investigations, as it initially pointed to Mexican products, later attributed the finding to a false positive, and is now considering that hypothesis again.
"We are asking the Ministry of Health because there was an initial investigation by the FDA. First, they said it was Mexican lettuce or that it is exported from certain places in Mexico to the United States. Later they said no, that the test they had done was a false positive, that is what they call it. And now they are picking this up again," Sheinbaum declared during her press conference.
The president assured that her government will provide the available information once the analysis by the Mexican health authorities progresses.
"An epidemiological study is being conducted to verify whether or not there is indeed something related to any Mexican product," she stated.
The statements come after the US investigation into the origin of the outbreak was expanded to nine states, with 11,573 potential cases of cyclosporiasis in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the US agency, 1,947 people infected with the Cyclospora parasite reported having been exposed to establishments of the fast-food chain Taco Bell in the affected areas.
The CDC warned that the actual number of sick people could be higher than recorded and that the outbreak is possibly not limited to the states where cases have already been confirmed, while health authorities in nearly 40 entities are investigating potential infections.
US federal authorities have linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce grown in the Mexican state of Guanajuato and distributed by the California-based company Taylor Farms to restaurants such as Taco Bell.
However, the Mexican Ministry of Health reported that tests performed on lettuce from the Taylor Farms plant in Mexican territory tested negative for the presence of the parasite.
In addition, some US state authorities are investigating different sources. In North Carolina, for example, local cases do not appear to be associated with the outbreak related to Taco Bell, and cilantro and parsley are being analyzed as possible vehicles of transmission.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection that primarily causes intense and frequent diarrhea, as well as loss of appetite and weight, bloating, nausea, fatigue, low-grade fever, and vomiting. It is usually associated with the consumption of contaminated fruits or vegetables and is not typically transmitted from person to person.
[Publicidad]