- A nationwide outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness causing severe gastrointestinal symptoms, is believed to have affected thousands across more than two dozen states.
- The full extent of the outbreak is unclear due to the federal government's decision last summer to remove the cyclospora parasite from the CDC 's Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet).
- This reduction in monitoring, attributed to federal budget cuts, has led to significantly lower official case counts compared to state-reported figures, with Michigan alone reporting nearly four times the CDC's national tally.
- Food safety experts had warned that scaling back FoodNet would hinder the ability to track and respond to foodborne illnesses, a concern now amplified by the current outbreak.
- State and federal officials are investigating a potential link between the outbreak and the fast-food chain Taco Bell, with some locations in Michigan warning customers about a recall of lettuce and other ingredients.
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