CDC Stopped Monitoring Parasite Now Causing Explosive Diarrhea Across The Country

Cyclospora Boosts Fears That Worse Foodborne Outbreaks Are Ahead - KFF Health News

The recent outbreak of a foodborne parasite sickened thousands and hospitalized hundreds across the U.S. before federal investigators identified the suspected source. Food safety experts say cuts to the public health system hobbled the response — and that the next outbreak could be much worse.

The Explosive Diarrhea Outbreak Is About to Get Much Bigger

Official case counts likely capture only a fraction of US cyclosporiasis infections, and the outbreak is likely to get worse before it gets better.

Trump’s deep public health cuts hinder response to record US cyclosporiasis outbreak

Experts say layoffs, reduced disease surveillance and Medicaid cuts have made the foodborne parasite more difficult to track and contain

Michigan reports the first 2 US deaths related to a diarrhea-causing parasite

State health officials say two people have died in the cyclospora outbreak in Michigan. They are the first confirmed deaths in the U.S. related to the microscopic parasite.

The CDC Has a Cyclospora Lab. DOGE Downsized It Last Year

“Based on simple math, these outbreak responses—which require rapid, timely responses—are going to be greatly diminished,” the former CDC lab director tells WIRED.

Don't delegate understanding

There is a parasite, I see it everywhere. It consumes your health and wealth. It preys on ignorance and is easy to catch. It’s so common you may not even not...

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Jalapeño (August 2026)

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections.

Taco Bell removes lettuce from menu after explosive diarrhea link

About 1,645 people in five states were infected by the parasite after having Taco Bell, according to US health officials.

Cyclospora and salmonella outbreaks raise concerns about U.S. food safety

Public health concerns are widening as cyclosporiasis cases surge and a salmonella outbreak across 17 states has many Americans raising concerns about U.S. food safety. Back-to-back cases where people are getting sick from food have put many on edge. William Brangham discussed the concerns with Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

Deadly fungal storms are now sweeping the US – and spreading a disease few doctors recognise | BBC Science Focus Magazine

As the US dries out, giant storms of dust are becoming increasingly common across the southwest

Trump admin shelves Cyclospora research despite record-breaking outbreak

The CDC has tallied nearly 30,000 confirmed and probable cases this summer.

EXCLUSIVE: Congo’s Ebola epidemic started at least 4 months before it was detected

Cyclosporiasis

Cyclosporiasis is a disease caused by infection by oocytes of Cyclospora cayetanensis, a pathogenic apicomplexan protozoan transmitted by feces-contaminated food and water. Outbreaks in the United States have been reported due to contaminated fruits and vegetables, and infection elsewhere is associated both with food contamination and with poor sanitation standards. Because the oocysts of Cyclospora must sporulate in the environment for 1–2 weeks before they become infectious, direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely.

The FDA Says It Didn't Apologize to Supplier Linked to Diarrhea Outbreak, Actually

The agency stressed that the July 17 voluntary recall from Taylor Farms still stands. The supplier has been linked to the ongoing cyclospora outbreak.

As Parasite Spawned Chaos, Taylor Farms Slow-Walked Its Response

The US Food and Drug Administration had apologized, Taylor Farms said in a post on X. An agency lab test linking its produce to the country’s worst cyclosporiasis outbreak in decades was a false positive. Not only that, but the government still hadn’t produced a laboratory result connecting the company’s lettuce to the outbreak.