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CDC spokesperson: Health investigators deployed to Ohio amid cyclospora outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control is sending disease detectives to Ohio to help with the cyclosporiasis investigation in the state, according to a CDC spokesperson.
The Cost of Cutting American Science: How Federal Cuts Diminish Public Health Capacity
Among the federal government’s many responsibilities is the work it does to protect public health. Federal agencies monitor our food supply to ensure safety, conduct research to better understand emerging health threats, provide funding for public health programs in communities and work to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Americans rely on these efforts every day—in a 2024 online survey, 74% of respondents said that “if the federal government issued safety guidance about food you eat regularly,” they would follow it. Changes to Federal Public Health Capacity The Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government have resulted in significant impacts on our nation’s public health capacity over the past 20 months, affecting the response to health concerns such as measles, Ebola and cyclosporiasis. Agencies with core public health, food safety and disease prevention responsibilities experienced large workforce decreases during the first year of the administration. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, the workforce in February 2026 was 26.7% smaller than in September 2024 before the start of the Trump administration. The Food and Drug Administration saw a similarly steep decline of 21.6%. Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Food Safety and Inspection Service also experienced large workforce decreases. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Changes can also be seen in crucial public health occupations. The number of federal food inspectors, for example, decreased by more than half between September 2024 and February 2026, going from 1,035 to 473. This is the lowest number of food inspectors employed by the federal government since at least 2005. By February 2026, there were also 33.3% fewer federal public health program specialists, whose work includes advising federal funding recipients on public health activities and analyzing the effectiveness of public health programs. Government’s capacity is diminished as employees with specialized knowledge and experience in protecting the public and responding to health risks depart, leaving agencies less prepared to carry out their public health missions. There also have been vacancies in critical high-level leadership positions at public health agencies, most notably at the CDC, which had a permanent Senate-confirmed director for less than a month between January 2025 and early August 2026. Although the CDC has previously been led by acting directors at the start of an administration, the nearly yearlong gap since the departure of the administration’s first permanent director in August 2025 is without precedent. As of August 2026, the FDA is also currently without a Senate-confirmed commissioner following the previous commissioner’s resignation in May 2026. Additionally, public health agencies are experiencing increased politicization of their leadership ranks. In agencies such as the CDC and Food Safety and Inspection Service, the number of individuals in the Senior Executive Service—the most senior career leaders in government—has declined significantly, while at the same time the number of political appointees has reached record levels. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); At the CDC, for example, the number of career SES decreased 42.9% between December 2024 and February 2026, while the number of non-Senate confirmed political appointees at the agency was six times larger than the agency’s historical average from 2009 and 2024. Knowledgeable career leaders are integral to the ability of public health agencies to carry out their work with scientific integrity and professional judgment, and rapid leadership turnover and increased politicization threaten agencies’ ability to make evidence-based decisions to protect our health. The upheaval and politicization in public health agencies have also negatively affected employee engagement. Strong employee engagement is crucial to the ability of agencies to carry out their mission and successfully provide essential services to the public. In the 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey conducted by the Partnership for Public Service, the Department of Health and Human Services—which encompasses major public health agencies such as the CDC and FDA—had an employee engagement and satisfaction score of 20.4 out of 100, one of the lowest among large agencies. Only 2.8% of HHS employees indicated trust in their political leaders and only 8.7% reported confidence that they could report a suspected violation of law or regulation without retaliation. Employees at HHS also reported that the agency’s ability to provide services to the public had suffered. Nearly half of employees at HHS, 47.5%, said their work unit was worse at delivering quality services compared to its performance in 2024. In addition, 57.8% said their work unit was performing worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs. In addition to the work done within federal agencies, the federal government also distributes significant funding for public health and disease prevention work to state and local governments, nonprofits and small businesses—funding which has been significantly disrupted. At the CDC, for example, there was a 71.9% decrease in the amount of project grant funding issued in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. The FDA also issued far less funding in fiscal year 2025—a 21.3% decrease from its fiscal year 2024 funding. Changes in federal funding include the ending of grants to community organizations that worked on HIV prevention and the cancellation of funding for research into improvements to patient safety and healthcare quality. These changes go beyond federal agencies to impact the broader public health ecosystem, including the state and local health departments responsible for much of the on-the-ground public health work in their communities. About 80% of the CDC’s domestic funding is directed towards state and local partners—meaning that cuts to CDC funding can ultimately result in cuts to state and local public health capacity. Federal agencies also provide expertise and assistance to state and local health agencies as they deal with particular health challenges, but workforce cuts have resulted in fewer federal employees available to help. The Impact of Changes to Public Health Capacity These changes to federal public health capacity are not abstract concerns. Disrupted programs, reduced funding and lost expertise at public health agencies across all levels of government threaten the public’s physical well-being and safety. In some cases, this has already led to harm. The most immediate impacts of federal cuts were seen in interruptions to ongoing public health programs and crisis responses. In one instance, when CDC grants were canceled during the 2025 Texas measles outbreak—the most severe measles outbreak in 25 years—public health officials in Lubbock, Texas were forced to pause parts of their measles response work supported by the frozen funding. Lubbock’s director of public health further said that a lack of available CDC experts to reach out to for advice “definitely” impacted the department’s response to the measles crisis. Cuts to federal funding also forced Dallas County Health and Human Services to cut staff and cancel 50 community vaccination clinics during the outbreak. Public health work outside of major outbreak responses was also disrupted. For example, in April 2025, the Milwaukee Public Health Department was unexpectedly unable to reach experts on lead poisoning due to firings at the CDC when responding to concerns about lead contamination in Milwaukee public schools. Due to federal workforce cuts, several programs at the CDC, including Alzheimer’s and epilepsy programs, have also become trapped in limbo—existing on paper, but without the staff necessary to operate. More recent crises reveal how federal cuts have weakened the public health infrastructure needed to prevent and respond to dangerous new outbreaks. Internationally, cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development eliminated funding for disease testing and contact tracing abroad, which delayed detection of and responses to the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While international outbreaks may seem far removed, the unchecked spread of disease in any country can quickly pose a danger to economic well-being, security and health around the world. Within the United States, public health cuts inhibited responses to the summer 2026 outbreak of the food-borne parasite cyclospora. At the federal level, cuts to funding for lab equipment and for CDC staff with expertise in parasitic infections—including 9 out of 11 staff members at the lab responsible for identifying parasitic outbreaks in 2025— contributed to the largest reporting delay in outbreak cases at the CDC in 15 years. Conflicting communications from the FDA about the source of the outbreak, which followed cuts to the agency’s communications department, additionally led to confusion among the public about how to best avoid infection. At the same time, cuts to HHS funding and support for local and state public health slowed some health departments’ responses to the crisis. The exact costs of these delays, constraints and confusion in public health responses are difficult to estimate. However, their message is clear: federal cuts have already made containing threats to public health even more of a challenge. Conclusion Protecting public health—from food safety to disease prevention—is one of the federal government’s most important missions. Dramatic and haphazard cuts to federal agencies and funding have already disrupted the public health system, impacting the response to challenges such as measles, lead poisoning and cyclosporiasis. The U.S. public health system needed improvement before these disruptions. Since 2022, federal leadership and coordination in response to public health outbreaks has been on the Government Accountability Office’s High-Risk List of areas in need of attention to improve government effectiveness and efficiency. Recent cuts only compound these concerns. The chaotic dismantling of government and resulting disruptions to crucial functions like public health and disease prevention highlight the need for meaningful reform and concrete policy proposals to reimagine how government can better serve the public and be more effective, responsive and accountable. To learn more about the impact of federal cuts to public health and science more broadly, visit The Cost of Cutting American Science. Learn more For more information on the Partnership for Public Service’s government reform initiative, visit Government for a New Era. View here In line with The Cost of Cutting American Science, federal workforce data in this brief is as of February 2026
State health officials report 906 cyclosporiasis cases since May, with 39 new since Aug. 4
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has reported 906 cases of cyclosporiasis since May, according to the latest data on their website.The
Cyclosporiasis cases in Harris County now at 24, health officials say
Harris County Public Health says that as of July 15 this year, there have been 24 Cyclospora cases reported.
Video Health officials declare the cyclosporiasis outbreak over
The parasite that sickened nearly 13,000 people in the U.S. was associated with contaminated lettuce and caused symptoms like diarrhea and nausea.
RFK Jr. says cyclosporiasis outbreak is ‘under control’ as Mexico casts doubt on link to Taylor Farms facility
Mexico said its own investigation hasn’t found evidence linking the outbreak to the Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico.
Ate lettuce recently? Here's how to tell if you have cyclosporiasis
Worried after eating lettuce? Here's how to recognize cyclosporiasis symptoms, when they appear, and when to seek medical care.
Cyclosporiasis Map 2026, Foods to Avoid as Outbreak Spreads to 47 States
A massive outbreak of the “explosive diarrhea parasite” cyclospora has been linked to shredded lettuce. Where are cases rising, and what are the other possible sources?
Cyclosporiasis outbreak exposes a weakened US public health system
The parasitic disease causes explosive diarrhea, abdominal pain and fatigue but is rarely fatal.
Disease Outbreaks Are Exposing The Cracks In Our Global Public Health System
Measles, Cyclosporiasis and Ebola are spreading at unprecedented levels. All three are exposing vulnerabilities in global public health infrastructure.
Massive lettuce-linked outbreak expands to 3 more states with over 11,000 illnesses
The FDA says the cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico has now spread to Georgia, Tennessee and Texas.
Health department to discontinue cyclosporiasis hotline with fewer new cases
Lucas County has reported 1,246 cases of cyclosporiasis, while 3,229 cases have been confirmed across northwest Ohio, a regional increase of 23 since ...
Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak tops 13,900 cases; 35 additional hospitalizations in past week
An additional 35 Michigan residents have required hospital care for cyclosporiasis as an outbreak continues to be tracked, state health officials said on Thursday.
Berrien County Health Department receives grant to cover cyclosporiasis outbreak costs
The Berrien County Health Department will be partially reimbursed by the state for costs it acquired from the cyclosporiasis outbreak this year.According to our
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak 2026 Map, Foods to Avoid as Parasite Cases Hit 45 States
A massive outbreak of the “explosive diarrhea parasite” cyclospora has been linked to shredded lettuce. Where are cases rising, and what are the other possible sources?
Southern Nevada Health District reports 2nd case of cyclosporiasis in Clark County resident
The Southern Nevada Health District reported a second case of cyclosporiasis in a Clark County resident.
Cyclosporiasis cases show ‘vulnerabilities’ in US food safety system, experts say
US states and federal government tracking cases as outbreak comes amid cuts to public health funding
Sen. Warren demands answers from RFK Jr. over 'calamitous' response to cyclosporiasis outbreak
Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seeking more information about the administration's "calamitous" response to cyclosporiasis.
Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak slowing, but cases still being reported
Health officials are investigating a rise in Cyclosporiasis cases across multiple states this summer including Maryland
Michigan health officials urge residents to keep eating fresh produce as cyclosporiasis outbreak continues
Federal health officials have investigated 5 different clusters of cyclosporiasis cases, FDA says
Federal health officials have been investigating five different clusters of cyclosporiasis cases since the start of parasite season in May, the FDA said on Monday.
Cyclosporiasis outbreak exposes a weakened US public health system
During the height of the summer outbreak of cyclosporiasis, Dea Lancaster set aside her usual duties as nurse coordinator at Michigan's Washtenaw County Health Department to call patients, asking about their symptoms and tracing the contaminated food they ate.
Health Department reports end of Boone County cyclosporiasis cases
Following 114 reported cases of cyclosporiasis in Boone County this summer, there have been no reported cases in September.
As cyclosporiasis spreads across the US, what goes into a disease outbreak investigation?
Health officials are continuing to investigate as cases of cyclosporiasis spread across the U.S. But what exactly goes into investigating an foodborne outbreak?
Parasitic infections likely linked to farming practices, not restaurants
Two state experts break down the mysteries around a complicated foodborne infection, Cyclosporiasis, that’s been gaining traction in North Carolina and across the nation.
Dolly’s generosity to Vanderbilt Health highlighted; reading test results before your doctor has a chance; staying healthy this fall; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources
Dolly Parton’s generosity to Vanderbilt Health was mentioned in many of her obituaries. A sampling: The New York Times, the BBC, NPR, NBC News, The Guardian, and Scripps News. Vanderbilt Health News posted a tribute to her, as well, and Mark Denison, MD, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and former director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, spoke to NewsNation for a story about her impact on his research. Everyday Health interviewed Trent Rosenbloom, MD, MPH, Professor of Biomedical Informatics, for a story about a new JAMA study that found two-thirds of patients read test results before connecting with a doctor. Comprehension of test results varied: 6.6 percent said they had a poor understanding, 26.8 percent understood the results fairly well, 31.7 percent understood them well, and 34.9 percent understood the results very well. William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, was quoted by several news outlets about public health issues, including: Healthline (cyclosporiasis cases now in 47 states); “The Naked Scientists” podcast (salmonella outbreak sickens hundreds); Medscape (the lighter-than-usual just-completed Australian flu season); and People (how to stay healthy this fall). Scripps News interviewed Jessica Young, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, about Vanderbilt researchers launching a study to determine if GLP-1 drugs can help people with opioid use disorder. WSMV Channel 4 News reporter Diana Rocco interviewed Kashish Goel, MBBS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Transcatheter Heart Valve Interventions, for a story about patient Dixie Watt and her minimally invasive valve replacement with the M3 device, the first Food and Drug Administration-approved transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement. Fogarty International Center writer/editor Susan Scutti interviewed John Koethe, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, for a profile article for their newsletter, Global Health Matters. The article presents him as an example of a Fogarty Fellow success story and focus on his past and present research, including the HIV/AIDS research he conducted for his Fogarty project at the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia in 2008 and 2009.
Cyclospora: largest US outbreak of explosive diarrhoea parasite is over, health officials say
More than 12,000 cases of cyclosporiasis, including two deaths, were linked to imported lettuce.
Nurses chase cyclospora, aided by interviews, fast-food receipts
More than 900 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan, have been sickened with cyclosporiasis since mid-June. Linda Kim, a public health nurse, has called more than 100 of them. Almost everyone has said the same thing: It’s excruciating, and one of the worst illnesses they’ve experienced.
Cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan climb to over 12,000, state health officials say
Michigan health officials reported 12,218 cases linked to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis on Wednesday, an increase of 710 cases since its last update a day earlier.
Kentucky health officials investigating over 600 reported cases of cyclosporiasis
The Kentucky Department for Public Health says they are investigating 620 reported cases of cyclosporiasis statewide, 274 of which have been confirmed as of July 29.
Michigan health officials lift lettuce, salad greens warning as cyclosporiasis cases decline
Michigan residents can resume routine guidance on eating lettuce and salad greens, state health officials said Thursday, as cyclosporiasis cases begin to decline.
What causes food poisoning? Symptoms, treatment and prevention tips
Thousands of people nationwide have become ill in an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak. A Penn State Health infectious diseases physician shares tips on how to prevent food poisoning and recognize…
10 San Francisco residents sickened as cyclospora cases surge
San Francisco has confirmed 10 cases of cyclosporiasis, including one involving a resident whose infection was genetically associated with the multistate outbreak that has sickened thousands.
The Science Lab Where Technicians Are Drowning in Feces
Samples—and a certain stink—are accumulating at Quest Diagnostics thanks to the cyclosporiasis outbreak. “You get used to it.”
Cyclosporiasis outbreak has expanded to six more states
The CDC’s planned update marks a significant expansion in the outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms.
Michigan health officials say people can resume regular lettuce-eating habits as new cases of cyclosporiasis slow
Michigan health officials said on Thursday that people can resume regular lettuce- and salad greens-eating habits as new cases of cyclosporiasis slow.
Alabama health officials report 28 cases of Cyclospora amid national outbreak
The Alabama Department of Public Health has reported 28 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in the state as of July 20, as part of an ongoing national outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis: the science, risks and red flags
What’s small, round and could give you explosive diarrhea? Cyclospora parasites. The diarrheal disease they cause is wreaking havoc on thousands this summer in what is the largest known flare up in the U.S. ever. What’s causing it and what can we do about it? NPR’s Joseph Kim joins host Nate Rott to talk about the outbreak – and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.Read more of Joseph’s reporting on cyclosporiasis here. Interested in more science in the news? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. It includes perks like bonus episodes, early access, archive access, curated playlists and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
What to Eat and What to Avoid for Optimal Gut Health
Gut health can impact everything from sleep to the immune system, so Dr. Roshini Raj, associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health, shares her recommendations for preserving your gut microbiome. She shares the signs of an unhealthy gut, and what to eat to improve it. Dr. Raj also shares her tips for avoiding cyclosporiasis.
Cyclosporiasis outbreak now linked to 9 states. See which ones
A cyclosporiasis outbreak has now been linked to nine states, according to federal health officials.
Health officials urge food safety as cyclosporiasis cases rise in North Carolina
Cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that can cause diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms, is rising across North Carolina and the U.S., health officials say.
US declares end of largest recorded cyclosporiasis outbreak
The US declares the end of the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, sickening over 12,000 people.
Cyclosporiasis cases are still being reported in N.C. Here’s what to know
New cases of the food-borne illness continue to be identified but not as many as during the June-July surge.
Is it safe to eat lettuce yet? What to know as cyclosporiasis outbreak lingers
As federal health officials continue to investigate this summer's outbreak of cyclosporiasis tied to iceberg lettuce, many people are left wondering: Is it safe to eat lettuce yet?
First deaths reported in cyclosporiasis outbreak
Two people in Michigan have died in connection with the outbreak of cyclosporiasis, health officials reported Monday.
Safe to eat lettuce like normal as statewide cyclosporiasis numbers dwindle, health officials say
Health officials on Thursday said it’s safe for residents to return to typical food safety guidance as statewide cyclosporiasis numbers continue to decline.
Record cyclosporiasis outbreak tests the response of a 'weakened' health system
From state and local food-safety response to the federal health agencies that fund that work, a record-breaking year for cyclosporiasis cases runs up against the Trump administration's cuts last year.
Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to spike, reaching 7,664 cases
California's cyclosporiasis cases are 'higher than expected,' but officials aren't sure why
There are no known cyclosporiasis outbreaks in California, but officials say case numbers are higher than they expected for this point in the season.
The Cost of Cutting American Science: How Federal Cuts Diminish Public Health Capacity
Among the federal government’s many responsibilities is the work it does to protect public health. Federal agencies monitor our food supply to ensure safety, conduct research to better understand emerging health threats, provide funding for public health programs in communities and work to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Americans rely on these efforts every day—in a 2024 online survey, 74% of respondents said that “if the federal government issued safety guidance about food you eat regularly,” they would follow it. Changes to Federal Public Health Capacity The Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government have resulted in significant impacts on our nation’s public health capacity over the past 20 months, affecting the response to health concerns such as measles, Ebola and cyclosporiasis. Agencies with core public health, food safety and disease prevention responsibilities experienced large workforce decreases during the first year of the administration. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, the workforce in February 2026 was 26.7% smaller than in September 2024 before the start of the Trump administration. The Food and Drug Administration saw a similarly steep decline of 21.6%. Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Food Safety and Inspection Service also experienced large workforce decreases. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Changes can also be seen in crucial public health occupations. The number of federal food inspectors, for example, decreased by more than half between September 2024 and February 2026, going from 1,035 to 473. This is the lowest number of food inspectors employed by the federal government since at least 2005. By February 2026, there were also 33.3% fewer federal public health program specialists, whose work includes advising federal funding recipients on public health activities and analyzing the effectiveness of public health programs. Government’s capacity is diminished as employees with specialized knowledge and experience in protecting the public and responding to health risks depart, leaving agencies less prepared to carry out their public health missions. There also have been vacancies in critical high-level leadership positions at public health agencies, most notably at the CDC, which had a permanent Senate-confirmed director for less than a month between January 2025 and early August 2026. Although the CDC has previously been led by acting directors at the start of an administration, the nearly yearlong gap since the departure of the administration’s first permanent director in August 2025 is without precedent. As of August 2026, the FDA is also currently without a Senate-confirmed commissioner following the previous commissioner’s resignation in May 2026. Additionally, public health agencies are experiencing increased politicization of their leadership ranks. In agencies such as the CDC and Food Safety and Inspection Service, the number of individuals in the Senior Executive Service—the most senior career leaders in government—has declined significantly, while at the same time the number of political appointees has reached record levels. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); At the CDC, for example, the number of career SES decreased 42.9% between December 2024 and February 2026, while the number of non-Senate confirmed political appointees at the agency was six times larger than the agency’s historical average from 2009 and 2024. Knowledgeable career leaders are integral to the ability of public health agencies to carry out their work with scientific integrity and professional judgment, and rapid leadership turnover and increased politicization threaten agencies’ ability to make evidence-based decisions to protect our health. The upheaval and politicization in public health agencies have also negatively affected employee engagement. Strong employee engagement is crucial to the ability of agencies to carry out their mission and successfully provide essential services to the public. In the 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey conducted by the Partnership for Public Service, the Department of Health and Human Services—which encompasses major public health agencies such as the CDC and FDA—had an employee engagement and satisfaction score of 20.4 out of 100, one of the lowest among large agencies. Only 2.8% of HHS employees indicated trust in their political leaders and only 8.7% reported confidence that they could report a suspected violation of law or regulation without retaliation. Employees at HHS also reported that the agency’s ability to provide services to the public had suffered. Nearly half of employees at HHS, 47.5%, said their work unit was worse at delivering quality services compared to its performance in 2024. In addition, 57.8% said their work unit was performing worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs. In addition to the work done within federal agencies, the federal government also distributes significant funding for public health and disease prevention work to state and local governments, nonprofits and small businesses—funding which has been significantly disrupted. At the CDC, for example, there was a 71.9% decrease in the amount of project grant funding issued in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. The FDA also issued far less funding in fiscal year 2025—a 21.3% decrease from its fiscal year 2024 funding. Changes in federal funding include the ending of grants to community organizations that worked on HIV prevention and the cancellation of funding for research into improvements to patient safety and healthcare quality. These changes go beyond federal agencies to impact the broader public health ecosystem, including the state and local health departments responsible for much of the on-the-ground public health work in their communities. About 80% of the CDC’s domestic funding is directed towards state and local partners—meaning that cuts to CDC funding can ultimately result in cuts to state and local public health capacity. Federal agencies also provide expertise and assistance to state and local health agencies as they deal with particular health challenges, but workforce cuts have resulted in fewer federal employees available to help. The Impact of Changes to Public Health Capacity These changes to federal public health capacity are not abstract concerns. Disrupted programs, reduced funding and lost expertise at public health agencies across all levels of government threaten the public’s physical well-being and safety. In some cases, this has already led to harm. The most immediate impacts of federal cuts were seen in interruptions to ongoing public health programs and crisis responses. In one instance, when CDC grants were canceled during the 2025 Texas measles outbreak—the most severe measles outbreak in 25 years—public health officials in Lubbock, Texas were forced to pause parts of their measles response work supported by the frozen funding. Lubbock’s director of public health further said that a lack of available CDC experts to reach out to for advice “definitely” impacted the department’s response to the measles crisis. Cuts to federal funding also forced Dallas County Health and Human Services to cut staff and cancel 50 community vaccination clinics during the outbreak. Public health work outside of major outbreak responses was also disrupted. For example, in April 2025, the Milwaukee Public Health Department was unexpectedly unable to reach experts on lead poisoning due to firings at the CDC when responding to concerns about lead contamination in Milwaukee public schools. Due to federal workforce cuts, several programs at the CDC, including Alzheimer’s and epilepsy programs, have also become trapped in limbo—existing on paper, but without the staff necessary to operate. More recent crises reveal how federal cuts have weakened the public health infrastructure needed to prevent and respond to dangerous new outbreaks. Internationally, cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development eliminated funding for disease testing and contact tracing abroad, which delayed detection of and responses to the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While international outbreaks may seem far removed, the unchecked spread of disease in any country can quickly pose a danger to economic well-being, security and health around the world. Within the United States, public health cuts inhibited responses to the summer 2026 outbreak of the food-borne parasite cyclospora. At the federal level, cuts to funding for lab equipment and for CDC staff with expertise in parasitic infections—including 9 out of 11 staff members at the lab responsible for identifying parasitic outbreaks in 2025— contributed to the largest reporting delay in outbreak cases at the CDC in 15 years. Conflicting communications from the FDA about the source of the outbreak, which followed cuts to the agency’s communications department, additionally led to confusion among the public about how to best avoid infection. At the same time, cuts to HHS funding and support for local and state public health slowed some health departments’ responses to the crisis. The exact costs of these delays, constraints and confusion in public health responses are difficult to estimate. However, their message is clear: federal cuts have already made containing threats to public health even more of a challenge. Conclusion Protecting public health—from food safety to disease prevention—is one of the federal government’s most important missions. Dramatic and haphazard cuts to federal agencies and funding have already disrupted the public health system, impacting the response to challenges such as measles, lead poisoning and cyclosporiasis. The U.S. public health system needed improvement before these disruptions. Since 2022, federal leadership and coordination in response to public health outbreaks has been on the Government Accountability Office’s High-Risk List of areas in need of attention to improve government effectiveness and efficiency. Recent cuts only compound these concerns. The chaotic dismantling of government and resulting disruptions to crucial functions like public health and disease prevention highlight the need for meaningful reform and concrete policy proposals to reimagine how government can better serve the public and be more effective, responsive and accountable. To learn more about the impact of federal cuts to public health and science more broadly, visit The Cost of Cutting American Science. Learn more For more information on the Partnership for Public Service’s government reform initiative, visit Government for a New Era. View here In line with The Cost of Cutting American Science, federal workforce data in this brief is as of February 2026
Three Public-Health Alerts, One Test for New York
Tularemia, cyclosporiasis and child vaccination present distinct challenges but require similar responses.
Why making Anthony Fauci the enemy will harm US public health for years
Republicans are trying to scapegoat the infectious disease expert, even as they have gutted healthcare amid outbreaks of measles, cyclosporiasis and Ebola
Fact-checking claims about Taylor Farms’ donations to Trump-aligned groups
Social media users looked into donations the company and its leadership made and drew assumptions about how those influenced the Trump administration’s outbreak response.
Cyclospora in Maryland: Health officials report 110 cases
Cyclosporiasis cases in Maryland have increased to 110 since May 1, state health officials said.
Cyclospora confusion? Four questions about the parasite in Minnesota, answered
Minnesotans can be reassured that the large multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis infections, a gastrointestinal illness caused by cyclospora, has not yet reached the state.
Dozens of new cyclosporiasis cases in Virginia and North Carolina; health officials warn about the risks
NC health officials report over 500 cyclosporiasis cases
There have been more than 500 cases of cyclosporiasis reported in North Carolina since the beginning of May. But officials say the state does not seem to be associated with the Taco Bell outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan climb to over 7,000, state health officials say
Michigan health officials reported 7,171 cases linked to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis on Wednesday, up 600 cases since its last update on Tuesday.
Choctaw Nation Public Health Advisory: Multistate Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
Choctaw Nation Public Health is monitoring a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to produce.
Michigan health officials say people can resume regular lettuce-eating habits as new cases of cyclosporiasis slow
Michigan health officials said on Thursday that people can resume regular lettuce- and salad greens-eating habits as new cases of cyclosporiasis slow.
Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Iceberg Lettuce in 9 States
Information on the current multistate outbreak of Cyclospora in the United States.
Health: Searching For The Source Of Cyclospora
You may have heard of a parasite that’s causing some gastrointestinal distress.Cyclospora has sickened thousands of people across 34 states this summer – more than six times the number reported at this point last year. The CDC has linked a major cluster to shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell in some states. And Taylor Farms de Mexico has now pulled all of its iceberg lettuce from the U.S. market despite an FDA finding that reports that its product contained the parasite were a false positive.We answer your questions about what cyclosporiasis is, how you get it, and why investigators have had such a hard time finding the source.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Federal health officials have investigated 5 different clusters of cyclosporiasis cases, FDA says
Federal health officials have been investigating five different clusters of cyclosporiasis cases since the start of parasite season in May, the FDA said on Monday.
Michigan reports two deaths in cyclosporiasis outbreak
More than 11,000 cases of the foodborne illness have been confirmed in the state and 193 people have been hospitalized since early May.
Focus: Michigan battles massive outbreak as state reels from Trump cuts
Two weeks before the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its cyclosporiasis health warning on July 14, Michigan warned of an unusually large outbreak of parasitic disease that was causing explosive diarrhea.
Is it safe to eat lettuce yet? What to know as cyclosporiasis outbreak lingers
As federal health officials continue to investigate this summer’s outbreak of cyclosporiasis that has been tied to iceberg lettuce, many people are wondering: Is it safe to eat lettuce yet? For now, the answer seems to be generally yes – with an important caveat.
Oklahoma Health Department reports 506 cyclosporiasis cases statewide
The Oklahoma State Department of Health has updated the cyclosporiasis numbers in Oklahoma, with 496 confirmed cases and 10 probable cases as of Tuesday, Aug. 1
Michigan cyclospora outbreak shows signs of improvement as new cases slow
Nationwide, there are more than 18,000 confirmed or suspected cases of cyclosporiasis, the illness caused by a parasite found in human feces, the CDC said Tuesday.
Berrien County Health Department receives grant to cover cyclosporiasis outbreak costs
The Berrien County Health Department will be partially reimbursed by the state for costs it acquired from the cyclosporiasis outbreak this year.According to our
DOH confirms 5th cyclosporiasis case in Hawaii
The Hawaii Department of Health is investigating a fifth case of cyclosporiasis in a military member who traveled internationally and to a U.S. state that reported increased cases.
Health officials say lettuce, salad greens contaminated with cyclosporiasis have left the market
Galveston County health officials confirm 14 cyclosporiasis cases, 4 other under investigation
On top of the confirmed cases, health officials added that four other cases are currently under investigation.
MU Health Care discusses rising cyclosporiasis cases amid nationwide outbreak
Cyclosporiasis cases continue to rise across the United States, and MU Health Care officials discussed the ongoing outbreak during a media briefing Thursday.
Cyclospora outbreak dubbed ‘lettuce-gate’ as health concerns spread across U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced hundreds more have been infected with cyclospora — bringing the nationwide total to 1,947 as of Friday.
Oklahoma health officials report 544 cases of cyclosporiasis statewide
KOKH Fox 25 provides, news, sports, weather and local event coverage in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, including McLoud, Shawnee, Tecumseh, Seminole, Wewoka, Maud, Asher, Wanetted, Goldsby, Norman, Blanchard, Chickasha, Pauls Valley, Purcell, Andarko, Bridgeport, Lawton, Duncan, Okarche, Kingfisher, Guthrie Stillwater and Cushing, Oklahoma.
Mississippi sees rise in cyclospora cases, health official weighs in
Mississippi health officials report rise in cases of cyclosporiasis. How to protect yourself from the diarrhea-causing parasite.
Which type of thinker are you? + US explosive diarrhoea outbreak
Madeleine Finlay is joined by Ian Sample, Guardian science editor, to discuss three eye-catching science stories including an investigation that has identified four distinct types of thinker. Also on the agenda is the unprecedented cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US which has now been linked to two fatalities, and the funding cuts that threaten the iconic Jodrell Bank world heritage site, home to the Lovell telescope
Michigan health officials say people can resume regular lettuce-eating habits as new cases of cyclosporiasis slow
Michigan health officials said on Thursday that people can resume regular lettuce- and salad greens-eating habits as new cases of cyclosporiasis slow.
Metro Health urges summer pool-goers to curb cryptosporidiosis risk as diarrhea cases rise
San Antonio Metro Health reports 36 cryptosporidiosis and 15 cyclosporiasis cases so far in 2026, in line with past summers. Officials urge pool and food safety steps, and to see a provider for persistent GI symptoms.
Cyclospora outbreak expands to nine US states, health officials say
Federal investigators continue to search for the sources amid the largest number of reported cyclosporiasis cases in US history.
More than 3,100 cyclosporiasis infections reported in last week: health officials
The illness is linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and recalled by Taylor Farms.
RFK Jr. says cyclosporiasis outbreak is 'under control' amid at least 1,600 cases in 5 states
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told ABC News on Tuesday that the multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S. is "under control."
San Francisco health officials report 10 cyclosporiasis cases so far in 2026
San Francisco public health officials have confirmed 10 cases of cyclosporiasis so far this year. San Francisco Department of Public Health officials said one case was associated with domestic travel outside California, while the remaining cases involved international travel.
As Maine reports more cyclosporiasis cases, health officials say outbreak may be slowing
The Maine CDC is reporting 49 cases of the illness, with 15 of those linked to the national outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak: Cases surge across NC as health officials work to find source
North Carolina health officials confirm hundreds of new cases of Cyclospora in the past week as investigators continue searching for the source of the outbreak.
Grant to help Berrien County Health Department recoup cyclosporiasis costs
The Berrien County Health Department will be partially reimbursed by the state for costs it incurred as a result of the cyclosporiasis outbreak this year. The Berrien County Board of Commissioners this month accepted a $35,000 grant
2 deaths reported in cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan as cases surpass 11,000
The first two deaths have been reported in the cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan, the state's health department announced Monday.
Cyclosporiasis Cases in Michigan Climb to Over 12,000, State Health Officials Say
Aug 5 (Reuters) - Michigan health officials reported 12,218 cases linked to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis on Wednesday, an increase of 710 cases since its last update a day earlier. Michigan has reported the first two deaths associated with the outbreak, saying both individuals had significant ...
Press Release: Rowan County Public Health Confirms First Case of Cyclosporiasis
Rowan County Public Health Confirms First Case of Cyclosporiasis FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Salisbury, NC-Rowan County Public Health (RCPH) is investigating our first confirmed c
Cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US, by the numbers
Some US states are facing a large and growing outbreak of diarrhea caused by cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that can contaminate fresh food or water.
Nurses chase Cyclospora using grocery receipts, food apps and detailed interviews
Public health nurses have been pulled from other duties in Washtenaw County, MI, to call hundreds of people sick with cyclosporiasis, and try to help them remember everything they ate in recent days.
Ohio County reports six cases as West Virginia cyclosporiasis outbreak hits 226 statewide
Health officials in Ohio County are urging residents to take extra precautions as an outbreak of cyclosporiasis continues to grow across West Virginia.The Wheel
Health Department detects another cyclosporiasis case in Hawaii
The Hawaii Department of Health today confirmed another case of cyclosporiasis in a U.S. military member based in the state.
More than 700 cyclosporiasis cases reported in North Carolina: health officials
WLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Asheville, NC and nearby towns and communities in Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina, including the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Haywood, Polk, Transylvania, McDowell, Mitchell, Madison, Yancey, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, Union, Pickens, Oconee, Laurens, Greenwood, Abbeville and also Biltmore Forest, Woodfin, Leicester, Black Mountain, Montreat, Arden, Weaverville, Hendersonville, Etowah, Flat Rock, Mills River, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Franklin, Cullowhee, Sylva, Cherokee, Marion, Old Fort, Forest City, Lake Lure, Bat Cave, Spindale, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Burnsville, Tryon, Columbus, Marshall, Mars Hill, Brevard, Bryson City, Cashiers, Greer, Landrum, Clemson, Gaffney, and Easley.
NYS health commissioner visits Syracuse, talks about WIC, vaccinations and cyclosporiasis
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR) — The WIC program has been providing proper nutrition in the region for nearly 50 years. Due to rising enrollment, the state’s health commissioner, James McDonald,…
Can I eat lettuce now? What to know about the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
As investigators continue to study the outbreak and its possible sources, many people have questions about what's safe to eat. Here's the latest advice.
Cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan climb to over 14,700, state health officials say
Cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan climb to over 14,700, state health officials say - Nation and World News | Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Michigan health officials say people can resume regular lettuce-eating habits as new cases of cyclosporiasis slow
Michigan health officials said on Thursday that people can resume regular lettuce- and salad greens-eating habits as new cases of cyclosporiasis slow.