In the wake of the Trump administration’s recent cuts to public health funding, a foodborne parasite has gone rampant, contaminating everyday food items and holing up unfortunate consumers in the bathroom with explosive diarrhea.
Cyclospora cayetanensis, often referred to as just Cyclospora, has caused an ongoing and widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness that’s typically contracted by eating or drinking feces-tainted fresh produce or water. As of July 13, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported more than 400 people infected with Cyclospora across Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. Nearly 7,000 cases have been confirmed or are under investigation in 34 states since May 1, the agency said Tuesday.
