Michigan is battling a massive outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic disease that causes explosive diarrhea. The state has reported over 8,100 cases, with new cases still being reported in the nine-state outbreak.

Local Health Departments Overwhelmed

Local health departments are struggling to keep up with the caseload, in part due to federal funding cuts. State and county health officials are borrowing staff and recruiting volunteers to investigate potential causes of the outbreak beyond the bagged lettuce linked to Taylor Farms and Taco Bell.

The outbreak has highlighted the challenges states face in responding to fast-spreading foodborne outbreaks without adequate federal resources. Michigan has 23 fewer infectious disease workers and 123 fewer county health staff after the Trump administration canceled COVID-era grants to states.

Communication Lag

There have been reports of a communication lag between federal agencies and local health departments, with some officials expressing frustration at the lack of information and coordination. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants sourced from Taylor Farms’ operations in central Mexico.

The CDC has reported 4,173 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis, with more than 7,400 unconfirmed cases nationwide. Michigan’s investigation did not identify a single fast-food chain as a source, and about 12% of patients have no clear link to having consumed lettuce or eaten at a fast-food chain.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.