‘Explosive diarrhoea’ outbreak grips US: how researchers are hunting its source Cases have hit record levels, and scientists are racing to pinpoint where the Cyclospora parasite entered the food supply. By Max Kozlov

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02225-w?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=69935b4cfc-nature-briefing-daily-20260716&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 Scientists hunt Cyclospora source Health officials in the United States are racing to pin down the origins of a widespread outbreak of the diarrhoeal disease cyclosporiasis. The parasite that causes the disease, Cyclospora cayetanensis, is difficult to trace because there’s a delay between consuming contaminated food and the appearance of symptoms, researchers say. The efforts are also complicated by cuts to health agencies made by the US government. “The number of staff working on these outbreaks is not what it used to be”, says Joel Barratt, former leader of the parasite surveillance team at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.