Health: Searching For The Source Of Cyclospora
Summary
This episode investigates the widespread cyclospora parasite outbreak sickening thousands across the U.S., linked largely to imported lettuce. Hosts speak with experts Helena Bademiller-Evich and Caitlin Rivers, plus Michigan’s Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, about tracing challenges, public health funding cuts, and prevention strategies.
Topics discussed
Intro: Cyclosporiasis outbreak and symptoms
Ads: Carvana, NPR funding, Planet Money
What is cyclosporiasis and how it spreads
Cyclospora vs. other parasites and food poisoning
Iceberg lettuce recall and multiple outbreak sources
Rising trend of cyclosporiasis cases in the U.S.
Challenges in testing and diagnosing cyclospora
Ads: Planet Money, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me
Michigan's response: 6,000+ cases and interviews
Identifying Taco Bell and lettuce as key sources
Public health funding cuts and staffing shortages
Advice for consumers and aiding investigations
Expert analysis on public health strain and funding
Listener Q&A: Treatment, transmission, and safety
Ads: Planet Money newsletter
Determining single vs. multiple outbreak clusters
Impact of federal cuts on outbreak response
Clarifying the Taylor Farms false positive test
Policy changes and food safety law updates
Final advice on produce safety and conclusion
Outro and State of the World promo
Listen ad-free on Castria