Cyclospora Outbreak

• Two people in Michigan have died following a cyclospora outbreak, marking the first confirmed fatalities related to the microscopic parasite in the United States. • State health officials noted that while cyclosporiasis is rarely life-threatening, these deaths involved individuals with significant underlying health conditions. • The fatalities were attributed to severe dehydration caused by diarrhea, which exacerbated the patients' existing medical vulnerabilities.

• Former CDC chief medical officer Debra Houry links current outbreaks of measles and foodborne cyclosporiasis to significant public health funding cuts. • Houry resigned from her position one year ago to protest political interference and the leadership of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. • The current administration has reportedly slashed billions of dollars in public health funding, which Houry argues has weakened the nation's ability to manage disease.

• MannKind announced that the FDA has approved Furoscix ReadyFlow, an autoinjector form of the diuretic furosemide designed to provide IV-equivalent therapy for adults with chronic kidney disease or heart failure. • Merck agreed to permit the production of generics for alimatravir, an investigational once-monthly HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis pill, specifically for low-income nations that approve the drug. • Dr. Craig Spencer argued in The Atlantic that public health strategies should incorporate elements from the "Make America Healthy Again" movement to improve outcomes.

• A multistate outbreak of Cyclospora has been linked to the consumption of iceberg lettuce across nine U.S. states. • Health officials are tracking cyclosporiasis cases and urging affected individuals to report symptoms to their local health departments. • This outbreak highlights the risks of foodborne illness associated with leafy greens, which can lead to severe gastrointestinal distress.

Explosive diarrhea infection spreads to 41 states with at least 72 sickened by new, as yet unknown source of parasiteConfusion abounds in the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands in at least 41 states, as officials identify a new cluster of cases and more potential products come under scrutiny.The recall of products during this outbreak of explosive diarrhea has been an unusual one, complicated by poor communication, politicization and the delay of a new regulatory rule could have helped trace the cyclosporiasis outbreak faster. Continue reading...

Health secretary says source has been identified despite experts warning infections are likely to keep risingHealth secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr said the ongoing outbreak of cyclosporiasis – the illness caused by the cyclospora parasite that causes watery and explosive diarrhea – is “under control”.Kennedy made the remarks one day after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did an about-face on a 27-state recall of shredded iceberg lettuce, calling the reported product a “false positive”. Continue reading...

• The CDC, FDA, and state public health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections occurring in July 2026. • The outbreak has been linked to the consumption of shredded lettuce and has affected individuals across five different states. • Regulatory agencies are currently collecting diverse data sets to identify the specific source of the contamination and prevent further illnesses.

FDA investigation identified a single supplier of the lettuce, but federal warnings did not name the companyFederal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell locations across five US states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late Thursday confirmed the source and warned consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Continue reading...

• Michigan health officials announced on Monday that lettuce or salad greens have been identified as the potential source of a widespread cyclosporiasis outbreak. • The illness, caused by the Cyclospora parasite transmitted via feces-contaminated food or water, has sickened thousands of people across the United States. • While greens are the primary suspects, officials cautioned that other food sources have not yet been completely ruled out in the investigation.

• The CDC confirmed 843 cases of Cyclospora across 31 states as of July 9, 2026, while a separate, larger outbreak in Michigan has surpassed 1,562 reports. • Health officials have not yet identified a specific food source responsible for the infections, though the outbreak persists through the summer season. • This situation is critical as it requires urgent medical attention for severe dehydration and specific antibiotic treatment, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says they are scouring food supply chain for culprit, which may be lettuceWhat is cyclosporiasis, the parasitic illness causing ‘explosive’ diarrhea?Federal health officials said they expect the outbreaks of cyclospora – a parasite that causes watery, explosive diarrhea – across the US to continue through August as they scour the food supply chain for the culprit.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified 1,645 lab-confirmed cases of the parasite; reported that 145 people have been hospitalized; and reported that they have a backlog of 5,100 cases that require more analysis, including interviews. Continue reading...