The first reported cluster of food-borne cyclosporiasis in Canada

Prior to 1996, sporadic cases of cyclosporiasis in Canada were most often associated with foreign travel and outbreaks throughout the world were associated with contaminated drinking water. In May 1996, the North York Public Health Department was notified of three laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis among persons who attended a luncheon at a religious institution. A ceremonial bath (mikvah) was initially identified as a possible source of exposure to contaminated water.

Guests of a luncheon were interviewed regarding food, beverage and water exposure. The institution kitchen and water sources were inspected and environmental testing was performed.

Eating strawberry flan, decorated with rasberries and blueberries, was associated with developing illness (relative risk = 2.13, p = 0.02). There was no evidence that water exposure was associated with illness.

This event was the index Canadian cluster of a widespread North American outbreak associated with imported Guatemalan raspberries. The local investigation highlights the role of public health departments in multijurisdictional food-borne outbreaks of emerging pathogens.