US cyclosporiasis outbreak expands to nine states as CDC investigates over 7,400 cases
A cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States has expanded to nine states, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigating more than 7,400 potential cases, as reported by The Guardian. The agency has confirmed 4,173 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases and is reviewing additional reports, according to The Guardian and Al Jazeera.
The outbreak, which The Guardian described as the largest on record, has led to over 11,500 suspected illnesses this summer. The CDC has reported 1,645 lab-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, with 145 hospitalizations, and a backlog of 5,100 cases requiring further analysis, including interviews, as stated in two separate Guardian reports.
Coverage comparison
The outbreak has drawn widespread attention, with coverage focusing on both the scale of the infections and the response from federal agencies. Al Jazeera reported that the CDC has confirmed 1,645 domestically acquired cases since May 1 and is reviewing more than 5,100 additional reports. The agency expects infections to continue rising through August, according to both Al Jazeera and The Guardian.
The Guardian's reporting has highlighted confusion and criticism surrounding the outbreak response. A former top food safety official accused the Trump administration of mismanaging the outbreak, calling the response "catastrophic" in an interview with Politico, as reported by The Guardian. The official, Frank Yiannas, who served as deputy commissioner for food policy at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2018 to 2023, cited a "lack of strong federal leadership" and mixed messages from agencies.
Key claims
The CDC has identified 1,645 lab-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, a figure reported by multiple outlets including Al Jazeera and The Guardian. The outbreak is expected to continue through August, according to federal health officials, as reported by The Guardian and Al Jazeera.
The FDA identified lettuce from Taylor Farms as linked to the outbreak, then backtracked, as reported by The Guardian. Taylor Farms recalled its lettuce, and the FDA has since apologized to the company, a claim the FDA denied, according to The Guardian.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, said the outbreak is "under control," as reported by The Guardian. He made the remarks one day after the FDA reversed a 27-state recall of shredded iceberg lettuce, calling the reported product a "false positive," according to The Guardian.
In North Carolina, officials identified parsley and cilantro, in addition to lettuce, as potentially linked to the state's 561 confirmed cases, as reported by The Guardian.
Perspectives
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr stated that the outbreak is "under control," saying at a press briefing that extensive epidemiological forensics had identified the source and that companies involved had implemented recalls, as reported by The Guardian.
In contrast, Frank Yiannas, former deputy commissioner for food policy at the FDA, criticized the federal response as mismanaged, calling for an independent review, as reported by The Guardian. Katelyn Jetelina, a science communicator, told The Guardian that communication has "continually fallen short," leaving experts to piece together information.
Joshua Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins University and former principal deputy commissioner at the FDA, told The Guardian that the key question is whether the source of contamination can be stopped, noting that if soil or water remains contaminated, there is a risk of ongoing contamination.