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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is addressing cyclosporiasis, the stomach-churning parasitic infection that has led to thousands sickened across the country in a widespread outbreak.
In a news briefing on health care fraud on July 21, the head of the Department of Health and Human Services said, "We do have the outbreak under control."
"We have done extensive forensics, epidemiological forensics and we have identified the source of the outbreak. We, and the companies that are involved, have implemented a recall," Kennedy added.
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Taylor Farms has recalled several lettuce products after federal officials linked it to a widespread outbreak, though an investigation into the exact source of the parasitic illness is still ongoing.
The Food and Drug Administration, which said that a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms apart from the initial announcement had tested positive for cyclospora, has since revealed the result was a false positive.
None of the samples tested for cyclospora in this outbreak have been confirmed positive as of July 19, the FDA said. The agency said it continues to work with Taylor Farms as it investigates the source of the outbreak and tests samples.
RFK Jr. says cyclosporiasis criticisms are 'invalid'
In response to a reporter's question, Kennedy also called criticisms of the government's response "invalid."
"We did cuts in the FoodNet program, but they were for redundant surveillance, and all the states will tell you that we're still doing forensics," he said.
He added they're still doing surveillance "in all the states" as well.
Last year, federal health officials scaled back the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, a program that has tracked food poisoning infections in the United States for decades. Unlike other foodborne illnesses like E. coli or Salmonella, cyclosporiasis is a parasitic infection that can contaminate food and water.
The CDC said the program, known as FoodNet, would no longer be required to monitor eight of the 10 pathogens it previously did, including cyclospora.
The loss of this data could hinder health officials’ ability to track cases, identify the source and stop further transmission, Kalmia Kniel, a professor of microbial food safety at the University of Delaware, recently told USA TODAY.
Contributing: Melina Khan and Stephen J. Beard
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. says cyclosporiasis 'under control,' rebukes criticisms
