Cyclospora outbreak in US sparks criticism of CDC and food agencies

A rapidly spreading cyclospora parasite infection is causing an “explosive diarrhea” outbreak in the United States. Dr. Peter McCullough notes that the CDC, with 12,000 employees and a $9 billion budget, along with the USDA and FDA, failed to detect the contamination in imported produce before people became ill and have not provided timely protection since.

McCullough urges the public not to stop eating leafy greens but to stop trusting the system to protect them. He advises thorough washing of produce, having trimethoprim‑sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) on hand for treatment, and supporting immune health with supplements and nasal/throat sprays. The commentary frames the issue as a broader failure of public‑health infrastructure rather than a problem with lettuce itself.