Officials: Herbs could be cause of Cyclospora outbreak,

The cause of a Texas foodborne outbreak in which Travis County has the state’s highest cluster of cases seems to be linked to at least one of four fresh herbs: cilantro, basil, parsley or mint, a health department spokeswoman said.

“I think it (the produce) is predominantly from Mexico,” said Carole Barasch, spokeswoman for the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department. She added that the source might not ever be pinpointed for the Cyclospora outbreak — the third to hit Texas in three years.

The Department of State Health Services, which also is investigating cases, has not yet identified a cause, although cilantro from Puebla, Mexico, contributed to a large number of Cyclospora illnesses in Texas in 2013 and 2014, spokeswoman Carrie Williams said.

Cyclospora is caused by consuming food or water contaminated by feces.

Thoroughly washing produce is recommended but may not eliminate the risk of transmission.

By late Tuesday the state had confirmed 135 Cyclospora cases, with 55 in Travis County. Barasch said her depart- ment confirmed 51 cases, and 17 others were probable, although state and local data eventually will match. No deaths or hospitalizations are reported.

Health officials have no plans to ask grocers to remove any produce because a specific cause isn’t known and because the outbreak is winding down, Barasch said.

That is little comfort to Bertha Miller of Austin, who has a family member diagnosed with the illness.

“I am concerned that the managers in the grocery stores are not aware of this,” Miller said.