Trump’s funding cuts created ‘the perfect storm’ that slowed the government’s cyclosporiasis response - CNN

What the report says

CNN reported that federal staffing and funding cuts have slowed the U.S. response to a growing cyclospora outbreak, citing former CDC officials, public health experts and state health departments. The illness, caused by a parasite that can bring weeks of diarrhea and cramping, has risen in many states during the summer. The CDC has reported more than 7,000 confirmed or under-investigation cases nationally, with more than 100 hospitalizations and no deaths so far, according to CNN’s account.

A central focus of the report is the CDC’s parasitic disease laboratory team formerly led by Dr. Joel Barratt. CNN said Barratt’s 11-person group fell to three people by September after Trump administration budget actions and hiring constraints; Barratt later resigned. Former officials told CNN that the loss of USAID-linked money, including about $29 million from the CDC division tied to malaria and parasitic disease work, had indirect effects on domestic cyclospora capacity because some staff, equipment and expertise were shared across programs.

The White House disputed that USAID funds were meant for domestic disease response and said the administration has been actively coordinating efforts to trace and contain cyclospora. Health officials also noted that cyclospora testing can be technically difficult because of the parasite’s complex genome. HHS did not tell CNN whether personnel and funding losses delayed the response.

Federal officials said Thursday that a multistate Midwestern outbreak was believed to be linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served by Taco Bell. Taco Bell said the affected lettuce was removed from its supply chain, and Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico from the U.S. market. The episode matters because experts told CNN that reduced CDC expertise may hamper outbreak detection, source tracing and food-safety responses.