Trump's CDC Stopped Watching This Parasite. Now It's Everywhere

There is a parasite spreading across the country right now that the CDC clinically describes as causing "explosive" diarrhea. Nationwide, the CDC now counts 1,645 confirmed cases and more than 5,100 more under investigation — nearly 7,000 confirmed or suspected, across 34 states. Michigan alone has confirmed 3,309.

It's called cyclospora, it rides in on fresh produce, and in a normal year public health officials catch it early. This is not a normal year. In July 2025, the Trump administration cut the CDC's FoodNet surveillance requirement from eight pathogens down to two. Cyclospora was one of the six they stopped requiring anyone to track. They also dissolved the CDC's Division of Parasitic Diseases entirely.

It all traces back to one decision: in March 2025, the administration clawed back $11.4 billion in public health funding from state and local departments. They took the smoke detectors out to save on batteries. Then a fire started.

SOURCES:

1. NBC News "Cyclospora outbreak sickens nearly 7,000 across the U.S."

2. USA Today "Cyclosporiasis parasite outbreakcases, foods, updates"

3. Newsweek "Trump's CDC Stopped Monitoring Explosive Diarrhea Parasite Before Outbreak"

4. Network for Public Health Law "Updates to HHS Restructuring and Funding Cuts"

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