Kennedy faces test as cyclospora outbreak tops 7,000 cases in Michigan

According to CNBC, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is under pressure as U.S. health agencies try to contain a cyclospora outbreak that has sickened at least 7,000 people in Michigan alone, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s official count remains near 4,200 cases. The Food and Drug Administration and the CDC have narrowed their focus to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, after the FDA briefly said the product tested positive for cyclospora before later calling that result a false positive. The outbreak response has drawn criticism from former officials and food safety experts, who say federal funding cuts, staff losses and delayed communications have left the system less able to investigate and contain foodborne illness. HHS said the FDA has been transparent with Taylor Farms and that the corrected lab result does not change its findings. The CDC has received reports of more than 4,000 laboratory-confirmed cases and is aware of more than 7,400 additional unconfirmed cases, many in Michigan and Ohio.