The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it is not considering restrictions on fresh produce imports from the United States, where thousands have been infected with a diarrhea-causing parasite.
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This undated photo taken through a microscope provided by the CDC shows Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts found in a fresh stool sample which had been prepared with a formalin solution and stained with safranin.CDC/via The Associated Press
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Tuesday suggests that since May, nearly 7,000 people in multiple states may have been sickened with cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness that causes watery diarrhea for six to seven weeks.
More than 1,600 cases have been confirmed and 5,100 are under investigation.
The bulk of the cases are in Michigan where local health officials have reported over 3,000 infections and suggested lettuce or salad greens could be a potential source.
But Michigan’s health department says no produce grower or supplier has been linked to the multi-state outbreak, and other foods cannot be ruled out yet.
What Canadians need to know about cyclosporiasis
The Public Health Agency of Canada said Tuesday that it is not investigating any outbreaks of cyclospora in the country.
The CFIA said officials are closely monitoring developments south of the border and will take any necessary action to ensure the food supply is safe.
The federal agency responsible for food safety says it routinely tests for cyclospora as part of its surveillance program, which targets imported fresh whole and cut leafy vegetables – including bulk and pre-packaged lettuces and salad mixes – and fresh leafy herbs like cilantro and basil, along with raspberries and blackberries.
This surveillance is conducted year-round, the federal agency says, and enhanced during periods of elevated risk. There is usually an increase of cyclospora cases in summer and spring when fresh fruit and vegetables are imported into Canada.
“These measures may include targeted import controls, additional import requirements where appropriate, increased sampling and testing activities, and other preventive measures designed to reduce the risk before products enter the Canadian marketplace,” a spokesperson for the CFIA said in an e-mail to The Canadian Press.