Transcript - Update on CDC's Cyclosporiasis Response - 7/14/26

Transcript - Update on CDC's Cyclosporiasis Response – 7/14/26

Please note: This transcript is not edited and may contain errors.

Good afternoon, and thank you all for standing by for the duration of today's call. All listeners are in a listen-only mode until the question and answer section. At that time, credentialed members of the media can press star one to ask a question or star two to withdraw your question. Today's call is being recorded. If you have any objections, please disconnect at this time. And I will now introduce Mr. Benjamin Haynes. Thank you, sir. You may begin.

Thank you, Amanda and thank you for joining us. We're joined by Dr. Gwen Biggerstaff, the deputy Division Director of NCEZID's Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, who will give you an update on the outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in multiple states that CDC has been tracking since early May.

We're also joined by Dr. Donald Prater, FDA's Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food, who will speak about their traceback investigation and food safety guidance.

With that, I'll turn the call over to Dr. Biggerstaff.

00:00:59 Gwen Biggerstaff, Deputy Director of CDC's Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases

Thank you, and good afternoon, everyone.

States are continuing to report an unusually high number of cyclosporiasis cases, and in particular, we are seeing a large outbreak in at least four midwestern states that likely have an epidemiological link.

Given that, we felt it was important to hold this briefing today to walk through what cyclosporiasis is, what we know about the outbreaks and case counts, and what our investigation has found so far.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora. It's spread when people consume food or water contaminated with the parasite — typically fresh produce that has not been adequately washed or cooked.