Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak largest in US history, officials say
9 reported3 unconfirmed
Michigan reported more than 5,000 cases of cyclosporiasis as of Friday, a 1,300-case increase from Wednesday, along with 102 hospitalizations, according to state health officials. In a typical year, Michigan sees between 40 and 50 cases. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said this is probably the biggest outbreak of cyclosporiasis in US history. The outbreak comes after the Trump administration cut $12bn in public health funding in March 2025, including laboratory capacity, disease monitoring and outbreak investigation. Michigan lost an entire regional laboratory and 23 employees in the state bureau of infectious diseases, while local health departments lost 123 staff due to federal funding cuts. The CDC has lost about one-third of its staff, and most permanent leadership positions are empty. Bagdasarian said communication with the CDC has been less than in previous outbreaks, and the agency issued a health advisory notice to providers two weeks after the first signals emerged. Robert F Kennedy Jr, secretary of HHS, made his first public comments about cyclospora on Friday, saying there are cyclospora outbreaks every summer without clarifying the current case numbers are dramatically higher than usual.
What’s reported
Michigan reported more than 5,000 cyclosporiasis cases and 102 hospitalizations as of Friday, July 18, 2026.
In a typical year, Michigan gets between 40 and 50 cases of cyclosporiasis.
The Trump administration cut $12bn in public health funding in March 2025.
Michigan lost one regional laboratory and 23 employees in the state bureau of infectious diseases; local health departments lost 123 staff.
The CDC has lost about one-third of its staff, and most permanent leadership positions are empty.
The CDC issued a health advisory notice to providers on Tuesday, two weeks after the first signals began emerging.
Robert F Kennedy Jr made his first public comments about cyclospora on Friday, July 18, 2026.
Lettuce from Taylor Farms is probably linked to the outbreak, according to reports from the Washington Post and Bloomberg News.
The CDC pointed to a shredded iceberg supplier in Mexico, naming Taco Bell as an affected restaurant, on Friday.
Open questions
Whether the outbreak has peaked or will continue to grow.
The full extent of cases in states beyond Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Whether the funding cuts directly caused the outbreak or its severity.
Key figures
Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive
Susan Kansagra, chief medical officer at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (Astho)
Robert F Kennedy Jr, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Melanie Firestone, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Sources: The Guardian
