Huge increase in sickness bug cases linked with travel to Mexico

Health authorities in the UK say 73% of cases of the cyclospora sickness bug reported in the past two months are related to travel to Mexico.

Public Health England (PHE) and Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have been investigating an increase in cases of the infection in travellers who have recently returned from the country.

Between June 1 and August 5 2016, 204 confirmed and probable cases of cyclospora have been reported in the UK.

Of those 73% (148 cases) were associated with travel to Mexico, all linked to all-inclusive resorts mainly in the Riviera Maya region.

The figure could be higher, as 53 cases are still being investigated for their travel history. In addition, PHE says some other cases are not reported and not all people with symptoms are tested.

Cyclospora cayetanensis can cause diarrhoea, fatigue, muscle pain, weight loss, abdominal cramping, nausea and fever.

It is commonly acquired from contaminated food or water and authorities say the source is likely to be food supplied to hotels in the area. An investigation into the outbreak is ongoing.

PHE said: "Cases have stayed at 24 different hotels and resorts in Mexico, but predominantly on the Riviera Maya coast.

"Cases are equally distributed between males and females, and the range of ages affected is 12-76 years.

"UK public health authorities have shared information with the Mexican authorities and the travel industry to support investigations in Mexico."

The number of reported cases is rising, according to PHE, which says in recent years it has had reports of around 30 cases a year in the UK, with various tropical and subtropical countries of travel identified as the source.

Last year there were 79 cyclospora cases reported in UK travellers returning from Mexico between June 1 and September 22.

On its Fitfortravel website, HPS said: "Travellers to Mexico are strongly advised to maintain a high standard of food, water and personal hygiene, even if staying in high-end resorts."

Law firm Irwin Mitchell said it is representing a family who contracted the illness on a 2016 summer holiday in Mexico. It is also working on cases from 2015.