Mexico Rules Out Parasite in 16 Riviera Maya Hotels

• Cyclospora in Riviera Maya
• 43 samples analyzed
• Cofepris reviewed 16 hotels

Mexico has ruled out the presence of the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite in samples collected from 16 hotels in Riviera Maya, following a health alert issued in the United Kingdom due to cases among travelers.

The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) conducted the review along with the General Directorate of Epidemiology amid an increase in reported infections by British authorities.

• Why it matters: The investigation involves one of Mexico’s main tourist destinations and occurs while the United Kingdom continues to study cases among people who recently traveled to the country.

Although the Mexican results were negative in the inspected establishments, the British investigation continues, and Cofepris is maintaining surveillance actions to detect potential risks.

Cofepris Analyzes Food and Water from Hotels in Riviera Maya

• The fact: Mexican authorities collected 43 samples from the 16 reviewed hotels: 32 corresponded to vegetables and fruits available at food bars, and 11 were of water for human use.

The analyses included microbiological, physicochemical, and molecular tests using real-time PCR, performed at the laboratory of the Commission for Analytical Control and Expanded Coverage (CCAYAC).

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• The process: Cofepris used as a reference the method established in the Bacteriological Analytical Manual to determine if there were traces of the parasite or signs of contamination in the selected products.

All the examined products tested negative for Cyclospora cayetanensis and did not present indicators of contamination, according to the Mexican health authority.

UK Reports 67 Cyclosporiasis Cases Among Travelers

The review began after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported an increase in infections among people who had returned from Mexico on July 30.

Between April 30 and July 15, 67 cases of cyclosporiasis were recorded: 30 in England, 27 in Scotland, and 10 in Wales.

Of the 51 patients for whom travel information was available, 48 had visited Mexico, a fact that led British authorities to investigate possible places of exposure.

• The difference: Cofepris did not find the parasite in the specific samples it analyzed, while the UKHSA continues to investigate infections among travelers staying at different hotels in Riviera Maya and Cancun.

What Travelers Should Know

The investigated patients had consumed food and drinks at different tourist complexes, including establishments with all-inclusive packages, so no single hotel has been identified as the origin of the cases.

Cyclospora can be transmitted through contaminated water or food and cause cyclosporiasis, whose symptoms may include frequent watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss, according to ‘EFE’ and ‘Proceso‘.

• What they can do: The UKHSA recommends taking special care with food and water hygiene, while Cofepris will continue to monitor the food chain to prevent new risks.
• The limit: The negative results correspond to the 43 samples taken from the 16 inspected hotels and do not close the investigation into the cases reported in the UK, whose possible origin remains under analysis