The Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risk (Cofepris) has ruled out any presence of the parasite Cyclospora in samples taken from 16 Riviera Maya hotels during an investigation linked to reports of British visitors falling ill after traveling to the Quintana Roo coast.
Mexico’s top health safety agency reported Tuesday that the analyses included 32 samples of fruits and vegetables obtained from food bars, as well as 11 samples of water intended for human use. All products tested negative for the parasite, and no indicators of contamination were detected in the establishments inspected.
The samples were analyzed using the real-time PCR pathogen-detection technique by the Cofepris National Reference Laboratory, based on the Bacteriological Analytical Manual method. The review was conducted in coordination with the General Directorate of Epidemiology as part of the sanitary surveillance measures implemented in the Mexican Caribbean.
“The absence of the pathogen Cyclospora cayetanensis, as well as of contamination indicators in the microbiological and molecular analyses, demonstrates that, at least at the specific points verified, sanitary control and handling processes operated within safety limits,” Cofepris said in a statement.
The case made international headlines after the Health Security Agency in the United Kingdom reported a rise in cyclosporiasis infections among people returning from vacations in Mexico.
According to the UK agency, 67 cases were identified between April 30 and July 15. Of the 51 travelers with available travel history, 48 reported having visited Mexico.
Following the report, the Health Ministry, which had confirmed 33 cases of cyclosporiasis in 13 Mexican states between May 25 and July 31, opened investigations into possible links with U.S. and U.K. infection reports.
Health Minister David Kershenobich said in a video posted earlier this month that detected cases represent just 0.00002% of Mexico’s population, and stressed that Cyclospora cayetanensis infections “are recurrent worldwide” with no scientific evidence to date that Mexico is the origin of the outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection that causes severe diarrhea and has been linked to unwashed lettuce or salad greens. It is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a parasite that affected individuals eliminate through feces, which can lead to contamination of food and water.
The parasite first gained global attention after the U.S. reported an outbreak of cyclosporiasis in mid-July, which affected over 1,600 people across 34 states.
Mexico News Daily
