TRUMP CUTS HAMPER US RESPONSE TO RECORD CYCLOSPORIASIS OUTBREAK

Michigan detected the first cases of cyclosporiasis in late June and released a public health notice on 1 July warning home cooks and commercial kitchens of potentially contaminated produce. The state reported more than 5,000 cases by Friday, representing a 1,300-case increase from Wednesday, with 102 hospitalisations recorded. The CDC has linked cases across five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The parasite, which causes weeks of severe diarrhoea and vomiting, is also spreading in other states, though the full extent remains unclear.

Michigan typically records between 40 and 50 cyclosporiasis cases annually. State officials have worked continuously since late June to respond to the outbreak. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's chief medical executive, stated that the state's outbreak figures alone "probably" represent the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in United States history. The disease takes weeks to manifest, meaning officials cannot yet determine whether their early warnings have reduced transmission.

The outbreak emerges as state and local health departments face layoffs, hiring freezes and funding delays. Federal agencies including the CDC have experienced staff reductions under the second Trump administration. The Trump administration cut $12bn in public health funding in March 2025, including cuts to laboratory capacity, disease monitoring and outbreak investigation. Millions of people have also lost health insurance through Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage, making surveillance and tracking of the parasite's spread more difficult, according to health experts cited by sources.