The Food and Drug Administration announced that fresh basil exported from Mexico is potentially linked to an outbreak of intestinal illness in the area.
An increase in Cyclopsoriasis, an intestinal illness that causes diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite and other flu symptoms, is potentially linked to fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico.
Since May 1, there have been 39 confirmed cases of Cyclosporiasis in Virginia, compared to an average of nine cases over the last five years in the same time frame.
In the District, there are 14 confirmed cases of the intestinal illness compared a total of eight cases in 2018.
Meanwhile, the Maryland Department of Health said that 42 confirmed cases of the illness have been reported this year, 37 of which were reported in the last two weeks.
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Yesterday, Virginia Department of health indicated three businesses that are a part of the investigation into the outbreak, as well: Workplace cafeterias at Capital One in McLean, the Valo Park Building in McLean and CarMax in Richmond.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of Cyclosporiasis should contact their health care provider.
• Sophie Kaplan can be reached at skaplan@washingtontimes.com.
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