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CDC Lab Cuts Amid 11,500-Case Lettuce Cyclospora Outbreak

8/1/2026

22 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Officials say a cyclospora outbreak has sickened about 11,500 people in at least nine states since May.
A CDC alert in mid-July recorded 1,645 confirmed cases and 5,100 pending analyses.
Investigators traced the largest cluster to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms grown in central Mexico.
DOGE cut eight of 11 CDC cyclospora lab jobs, reduced CDC scientists from 73 to 38, and left about 80 % of CDC leadership posts vacant.

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Story summary

Officials say a cyclospora outbreak has sickened about 11,500 people in at least nine states since May.
A CDC alert in mid-July recorded 1,645 confirmed cases and 5,100 pending analyses.
Investigators traced the largest cluster to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms grown in central Mexico.
DOGE cut eight of 11 CDC cyclospora lab jobs, reduced CDC scientists from 73 to 38, and left about 80 % of CDC leadership posts vacant.