Ossoff Presses RFK Jr. on 1,600 Cyclospora Cases as CDC Made Reporting Optional
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 20
Ossoff Presses RFK Jr. on 1,600 Cyclospora Cases as CDC Made Reporting Optional
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 20
Summary
Jon Ossoff gave HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 72 hours to explain why CDC surveillance no longer requires Cyclospora reporting during an outbreak spanning 34 states.
Since July 1, 2025, FoodNet has made reporting optional for all pathogens except Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, a shift Ossoff said weakened national foodborne-illness monitoring.
Ossoff's office cited more than 1,600 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases, over 100 hospitalizations and thousands more cases under investigation, including in Georgia.
CDC said the narrower reporting rules reflect an evolving surveillance system because other public health programs also track FoodNet pathogens, allowing staff to prioritize core activities while maintaining the network.
The dispute puts fresh scrutiny on federal outbreak detection as investigators track a parasite that can cause severe diarrhea, weight loss, cramps, nausea and fatigue.