Important Update With the rise of the Cyclospora parasite causing diarrhea across the United States, former CDC officials are expressing serious concerns that staffing cuts have hindered the national response to this growing health threat.
In light of substantial government downsizing initiated by President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency last year, the CDC lab tasked with overseeing the Cyclospora outbreak has seen its staff dramatically reduced from 11 to just 3 members, according to Joel Barratt, a molecular parasitologist and assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine, who previously led this team.
“By simple calculations, the response capabilities for such outbreaks— which require rapid intervention— will be significantly diminished,” Barratt told WIRED. “Cyclospora is currently highlighted in the media, but various other pathogens pose a greater risk.”
Barratt, who retired from the CDC in September after eight years, cited an inability to uphold public health standards amid extensive policy changes and staffing reductions under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“The workplace transformed into a hostile environment,” he remarked. “I often had to inform colleagues, ‘We sincerely apologize for the lack of updates due to the hiring freeze.’”
WIRED reported in October that the CDC’s total workforce had been cut by approximately 3,000 employees (around 25% of its overall staff), effective January 2025. This total includes personnel who were furloughed or accepted the Trump administration’s buyout initiative. Estimates were sourced from the American Federation of Public Employees Local 2883, representing CDC employees. Barratt’s previous lab size was first reported by Nature.
“The CDC maintains a dedicated team addressing the ongoing Cyclospora response and continues to collaborate closely with the FDA and health departments across all 50 states,” a CDC spokesperson communicated to WIRED. “The agency is actively surveilling cases, collecting data, and cooperating with state and federal partners to investigate the outbreak. Importantly, CDC laboratories supporting the Cyclospora response remain unaffected by the recent staff reductions.”
Nationwide, an estimated 7,000 individuals may be infected with Cyclospora, although experts suggest the true number is likely higher. As of Thursday, over 4,300 confirmed cases had been reported in Michigan alone.
In addition to the Cyclospora outbreak, the CDC is grappling with multiple public health emergencies, including an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and several domestic crises such as measles, Escherichia coli linked to frozen blueberries, infant botulism related to specific infant formulas, and Salmonella from various sources. The CDC is currently investigating the Cyclospora outbreak and has identified lettuce from Taylor Farms as a possible contamination source, according to an anonymous informant. For more details, visit the Washington Post.
“Even prior to the 2025 cuts, significant improvements in our nation’s public health surveillance and food safety systems were necessary,” noted Amira Ross, a professor of global health epidemiology at George Mason University and a former employee of the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service.
Barratt emphasized that effectively addressing disease outbreaks demands intricate coordination between state and federal entities.
Cyclospora presents unique challenges, particularly due to the delay between exposure to contaminated food and the onset of symptoms, which can take 1 to 2 weeks to manifest. Individuals may also avoid seeking medical attention for several days after falling ill.
Source: www.wired.com