DL Opinion columns

Explosive diarrhea and Imploding CDC – by Deborah Levine

(column for The Chattanooga Times Free Press)

The outbreak of explosive diarrhea cross the U.S. is truly frightening. Referred to as ‘Cyclospora’, the cause is a parasite transmitted via human feces that gets into food through contaminated irrigation water, soil, or infected food handlers.  Eeww! According to the CDC (Center for Disease Prevention & Control), Cyclospora advances in the spring and summer, but this year, the number of confirmed cases is 6 times higher than last year. And when the more than 7,000 likely cases are researched, that number could be 27 times higher than last year. It’s unclear why this information remains so vague. But it should come as no surprise that politics are involved.

We have Elon Musk’s DOGE to thank for gutting the CDC’s food inspection and pathogen testing. DOGE ended 28 years of screening for Cyclosporiasis. And Doge was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who made Cyclospora tracking optional, rendering the  CDC virtually unable to detect and follow the outbreaks. So we ‘re essentially clueless about where this all started, and how it’s continually passed on.

We do know that Cyclospora may be dangerous to healthy folks, but can be life threatening to kids and the elderly. The number of states hit is growing, with more likely. I doubt that I’m alone being creeped out about this. While early on the CDC was missing in action, multiple blogs offered tips on avoiding possibly contaminated raw food: 1) Fresh Herbs, 2) Berries, 3) Leafy Greens, 4) Pre-packaged salads, 5) Fresh veggies. All my favorite stuff! 

I loved the reaction to this list from a good somewhat-elderly friend. “I’m guessing I’ll replace fruit & vegetables with donuts, cake & bacon!”  I laughed with him, but not at how the CDC scaled back its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet).  Unfortunately, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) followed suit.

The FDA made the tracking of Cyclospora optional this year and definitely messed up. It announced a positive lab test result linked to Taylor Farms lettuce, only to reverse course claiming a false positive. No wonder folks thought that the reversal was a political move since Taylor Farms had recently visited Trump, and has donated $3.8 million to GOP causes. 

Trust was further broken when RFK Jr. announced to ABC News that the outbreak is “under control” and the source of the parasite has been identified. What! No wonder Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff wrote him, “Your foolish and self-indulgent demolition of critical public health programs puts Americans at risk”.

This wouldn’t the first time that federal agencies like the CDC have been influenced by donors. Years ago, I asked a young friend who had recently become doctor and hospital administrator if she’d consider becoming head of the CDC. Her response was memorable, “You gotta be kidding! Why would I want to head that political cesspool pool?” 

If it was a political cesspool, it’s definitely worse now. Currently, the CDC only has a temporary director, having fired the previous one, Dr. Susan Monare. Why? She refused Robert Kennedy Jr.’s demands to pre-approve vaccine advisory panel recommendations (no scientific evidence) and to fire career health officials.

I’m a big fan of Frank Yiannas, who served as the Food and Drug Administration’s deputy commissioner for food policy from 2018 to 2023. Yianis calls for an independent review of the government’s response. Explaining why the review is necessary, he pointed to the weird false negative as well as the outbreak’s magnitude, widespread confusion and questionable federal leadership. The review would be conducted either by congress, an independent inspector or an appointed expert panel.

Couldn’t agree more!  How about you?

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