What is the CDC doing to stop the cyclosporiasis outbreak?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it's working closely with states on the rising cyclosporiasis cases across the country − but health experts warn previous cuts to food surveillance could hinder the outbreak investigation.

In a statement shared on July 10, the CDC said it is aware that states are reporting higher case counts of cyclosporiasis than reflected in CDC data and that the federal agency is updating numbers as additional cases are confirmed.

"CDC teams are working diligently to collect, analyze and provide data at the national level," the CDC added. "State health departments may have more timely information about the situation in their jurisdictions."

The parasitic infection, which can cause explosive diarrhea among other symptoms, has surpassed 1,000 cases across the country as health officials are still searching for answers.

Currently, there is no evidence of a single, multistate outbreak linking all cases. Local and federal authorities are still working to identify a potential source of illness for illness clusters, however, many cases thus far appear to be part of a seasonal surge. The CDC considers annual cyclosporiasis surges to run from May 1 to Aug. 31.

"At this time, no specific produce grower, supplier or type of produce has been identified as the source," Lynn Sutfin, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson, told USA TODAY July 7. "Anyone experiencing gastrointestinal illness, such as sudden and ongoing diarrhea, should contact their health care provider and their local health department."

'We have a lot less information to work with'

Outbreaks connected to foodborne illnesses can be difficult to track, and the parasitic nature and long incubation period of cyclosporiasis adds to the challenge.

"When you have a hard bug to figure out, like cyclospora, it takes a lot longer (to trace). It takes a lot more time and a lot more legwork," food safety attorney Bill Marler recently told USA TODAY.

Marler said he expects a lengthy investigation, especially with significantly pared-down staff at both CDC and FDA thanks to budget cuts and firings.

Last year, federal health officials scaled back the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, a program that has tracked food poisoning infections in the U.S. for decades.

The CDC said the program, known as FoodNet, would no longer be required to monitor eight of the 10 pathogens it previously did, including cyclospora.

The loss of this data could hinder health officials' ability to track cases, identify the source and stop further transmission, Kalmia Kniel, a professor of microbial food safety at the University of Delaware, recently told USA TODAY.

"We have a lot less information to work with," Kniel said. "I think we're seeing some of the effects of that now."

Dr. Steven Goldberg, a primary and urgent care physician as well as chief medical officer at infectious disease laboratory HealthTrackRx, recently told USA TODAY that cyclosporiasis is a "real but manageable concern − not a reason for panic." But it still raises questions about public health preparedness.

"Outbreaks are inevitable, but our ability to catch them early, identify the contaminated food and prevent further illness depends entirely on the public health infrastructure we choose to fund," he said.

In a statement to USA TODAY, the Food and Drug Administration said, "Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy, FDA is currently investigating cyclospora outbreaks using established epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback tools in close coordination with CDC and state and local partners."

Contributing: Christopher Cann

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the CDC doing to stop the cyclosporiasis outbreak?

Reporting by Sara Moniuszko and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect