All articles tagged with #centers for disease control and prevention
Federal officials are poised to announce the end of the United States’ largest cyclosporiasis outbreak, which sickened thousands after people ate shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, marking a turning point in ongoing federal health investigations led by the FDA and CDC.
The CDC has expanded the multistate cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico to 20 states, adding Georgia, Tennessee and Texas. A total of 11,458 illnesses have been linked to the outbreak, with 495 hospitalizations and two deaths (both in Michigan). Most illnesses occurred before the July 17 recall removed central‑Mexico-sourced lettuce, and the recalled product’s best‑by dates have passed, so it should no longer be in stores or restaurants. The state additions may reflect a lag in linking cases (roughly six weeks). Nationally, about 17,180 cyclospora illnesses have been reported in the U.S. for cases not tied to the lettuce outbreak, and other related outbreaks are still under investigation.
The Washington Post Editorial Board criticizes Health Secretary RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine statements as misinformation during Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak, asserting vaccines are the best protection for children and urging public officials to follow the scientific consensus from the CDC and HHS rather than inflammatory rhetoric.
America’s summer Covid surge is being driven by the Stratus variant, with rising cases across almost all states and doctors noting new gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and dehydration alongside the usual cough and fever; experts warn that if the wave persists, up to roughly 10–15% of Americans could be infected in this cycle, vaccines updated this fall are expected to bolster protection, and most people can manage symptoms at home with fluids and rest.
RFK Jr. visited the CDC campus in Atlanta on the eve of the first anniversary of the shooting, praising CDC scientists while also urging greater skepticism of scientific authorities; the event drew mixed reactions from some scientists who noted his past criticisms of the CDC and federal health department cuts that reduced agency staff.
Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus first detected in the U.S. in 2013, has now been found in 27 states and poses a major threat in healthcare settings, particularly to seriously ill patients with devices such as ventilators, feeding tubes, or catheters. The yeast can persist on surfaces and resist many disinfectants and antifungal medicines, complicating treatment. Infection-control measures in hospitals—private rooms, gowns and gloves, dedicated equipment, and EPA-approved cleaners—are essential to prevent spread, and diagnosis requires lab testing; some strains are resistant to azoles and amphotericin B.
The CDC has expanded the largest U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak to 15 states, linking illnesses to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico and noting ties to Taco Bell; Missouri reported a dramatic rise in cases, Michigan has two related deaths, Taylor Farms recalled the lettuce on July 17, and officials caution that the true case count may be higher and the outbreak could extend to more states.
An Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has killed about 1,700 people, marking the fastest-growing outbreak in the region and triggering an intensified international health response.
Data from Johns Hopkins University shows the United States has recorded 2,295 measles cases in 2026 so far—the most in a year since 1991—signaling a resurgence tied to outbreaks across multiple states and lower vaccination rates, with more than five months remaining in the year.
An ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce has sickened more than 7,000 people nationwide. Despite a Taylor Farms recall and Sysco halting distribution from Mexico, investigators are still determining the source, while health authorities urge consumers to avoid recalled lettuce, check packaging details, and follow FDA/CDC guidance as the investigation continues.
Washington Post reports that despite a large cyclosporiasis outbreak, the CDC’s reduced FoodNet surveillance would have little effect on current outbreak detection since cyclosporiasis remains nationally notifiable in separate databases; investigations rely on state case reports and traceback, but funding cuts could hinder long‑term trend monitoring and risk assessment for future outbreaks.
West Nile virus activity is starting earlier this year, with 48 reported cases and 38 severe illnesses—the highest in more than two decades—driven by warm weather and standing water; the CDC urges preventive mosquito-bite measures.
A Kenyan court suspended the Trump-era plan to set up a U.S.-run Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base, citing a threat to life even as authorities prepared to open the makeshift hospital for Americans exposed to Ebola in the Congo outbreak; a June 2 hearing was scheduled to review the case.
A hantavirus outbreak linked to a Dutch cruise ship that departed from Argentina infected 11 people and killed three; 18 Americans are under a six-week quarantine, longer than guidelines for most contagious diseases. Experts point to Andes hantavirus’s longer incubation period and transmission via bodily fluids, meaning the overall risk to the U.S. public remains low even as authorities maintain extended monitoring to prevent further spread.
The CDC is boosting health screenings and traveler monitoring amid an Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. Non-U.S. passport holders who recently traveled to those countries within 21 days may be barred from entering under a Title 42 order, as the U.S. coordinates with airlines and port officials. The WHO has declared a public health emergency, with hundreds of suspected cases and dozens of deaths; the Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine and high mortality. U.S. officials say the immediate risk to the general public remains low while continuing to monitor and adjust measures as needed.