Cyclospora Outbreak Surpasses 11,500 Cases

The cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States has surged to more than 11,500 confirmed cases across 41 states, far exceeding earlier estimates and raising questions about the federal response.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is struggling to identify the source of the intestinal parasite, which causes prolonged gastrointestinal illness.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had previously declared the outbreak contained, a statement now contradicted by the rapidly rising case count.

The outbreak has become one of the largest foodborne illness events in recent U.S. history, straining local health departments and prompting calls for a more aggressive federal investigation.