WASHINGTON — U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Tuesday that a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis was "under control," stating that investigators had identified the source of the infections and that recalls had been implemented, while federal health authorities continued to investigate the contamination and monitor new cases.
Speaking during a news briefing, Kennedy said federal investigators had completed extensive epidemiological work tracing the outbreak and that companies linked to the contamination had taken corrective action through product recalls. He rejected criticism that recent changes to federal disease surveillance had hindered the government's response, saying the reductions affected only what he described as redundant monitoring programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is continuing to investigate multiple outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal illness caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis that commonly spreads through contaminated fresh produce or water. Symptoms include prolonged diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue and abdominal cramping, and untreated infections can persist for weeks.
According to the CDC, more than 4,100 laboratory-confirmed, domestically acquired cases have been reported since early May, with investigations continuing into several clusters. Federal and state health officials have urged healthcare providers to report suspected infections to support ongoing surveillance and traceback efforts.
The outbreak has been linked through epidemiological evidence to shredded iceberg lettuce distributed from a Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico, although the Food and Drug Administration recently said an earlier laboratory result indicating the parasite had been detected in a lettuce sample should be treated as a false positive following additional review. The agency said the revised laboratory finding did not alter the broader evidence supporting its investigation or previous consumer advisories.
Mexican health authorities said their own investigation had not found evidence that the outbreak originated at the facility identified by U.S. officials, highlighting a continuing difference between the countries' assessments of the available evidence.
Public health experts have questioned whether staffing reductions and changes to foodborne disease surveillance programs may have slowed the detection of the outbreak, an assertion Kennedy disputed during Tuesday's briefing.
Federal health agencies said surveillance and traceback investigations remain active and advised consumers to continue following food safety guidance while officials work to identify any remaining sources of contamination and prevent additional illnesses.
