Home / Health / CDC Cutbacks Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak Surge
CDC Cutbacks Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak Surge
10 Jul
Summary
- CDC reduced foodborne illness tracking before cyclospora outbreak.
- Michigan reports over 700 cases in a major cyclosporiasis surge.
- A dedicated CDC division for parasitic diseases was dissolved.
In July 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scaled back the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), a program that had tracked food poisoning infections for three decades. This reduction saw the number of monitored pathogens decrease from eight to two, a year before a significant rise in cyclosporiasis cases occurred.
As of July 2026, a nationwide surge in cyclosporiasis has been observed, with Michigan reporting an outbreak of over 700 cases. Infections have also been recorded across at least 18 states, prompting investigations into potential common sources, though no specific food product has been identified yet.
Further compounding concerns, the CDC quietly dissolved its Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria (DPDM) in 2025. This division was responsible for monitoring and researching various parasitic infections, including foodborne illnesses like cyclosporiasis, raising worries about the agency's future capacity to address such threats.
