Uncertainty persists over food source of summer cyclospora outbreak, officials say

A parasite called cyclospora has infected nearly 7,000 people across 34 states this summer, marking one of the largest surges on record.

Michigan health officials have identified lettuce and salad greens as a possible source and recommend buying whole heads, removing outer leaves and washing the remaining portions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it cannot yet determine whether the cases stem from a single contaminated source or multiple unrelated clusters, noting the difficulty of tracing cyclospora even under optimal conditions.

Epidemiologists warn that recent government budget cuts have left a gap in the surveillance and communication systems needed to quickly identify foodborne illness sources, leaving the public without clear answers.