Trump Administration Makes Cyclospora Surveillance Optional Amid 2026 Outbreak

In July 2025 the FoodNet program— a partnership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and ten state health departments—changed its policy so that reporting of cyclospora, the parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, became optional. By May 1 2026 the CDC reported 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis and noted more than 5,100 additional reports pending analysis. Multiple states have recorded increases compared with the same period in 2025, prompting public-health concern during a nationwide outbreak.

Snopes

Cyclospora was first identified as a human gastrointestinal pathogen in 1993-94. Mandatory FoodNet surveillance of the parasite began in 1997, the same year the first U.S.–originated outbreak (linked to basil) was recorded. Prior to the 2026 surge, the largest U.S. outbreak occurred in 1996 with 1,465 cases tied to Guatemalan raspberries. A 2023 CDC report highlighted persistent knowledge gaps and a shift from travel-related cases to infections linked to domestically grown produce.

Snopes

The CDC’s archived surveillance page confirms the optional reporting change and reiterates that FoodNet “is not designed to detect outbreaks of foodborne illness.” Snopes reached out to both the Trump administration and the CDC for comment on whether the policy shift contributed to the 2026 outbreak; neither entity responded.

Snopes

Social-media posts in July 2026 claimed the Trump administration “cut public health tracking” of cyclospora, describing the parasite as causing “explosive diarrhea.” Snopes rated the claim as unverified, noting it could not determine a causal link between the 2025 policy change and the 2026 case increase. The absence of official comment leaves a gap in understanding the impact of the surveillance alteration.

Snopes

• “Prior to this change, surveillance of cyclospora had been mandatory since 1997.” — Snopes, Fact-Check

Snopes

• “During the 2026 outbreak, the CDC website about surveillance of cyclospora (archived) stated: Since May 1, 2026, CDC has received reports of 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis and is aware of more than 5,100 cases that require further analysis to confirm the illness as domestically acquired cyclosporiasis.” — Snopes, Fact-Check

Snopes