This photomicrograph of a fresh stool sample, which had been prepared using a 10% formalin solution, and stained with safranin, revealed the presence of three uniformly stained Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts in the field of view.
The United States Department of Agriculture is shuttering two of their research projects used to study cyclospora, the foodborne parasite that has infected thousands of Americans in 20 states over the summer.
Two of the three being closed by the Trump administration were defunded by Congress earlier this year, according to Politico. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson said Congress did not appropriate funding for the two research projects that were being undertaken at the Beltsville Agricultural Center outside Washington for the 2026 fiscal year in the Agriculture Appropriations Act.
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The other side:
Although the third project continues to be funded, the USDA is set to move the project, as part of a greater reorganization plan, from Maryland to Iowa, according to the report. However, none of the scientists working on the project agreed to relocate to Iowa, according to Politico, citing people familiar with the plans and internal documents.
Big picture view:
The latest information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the number of laboratory-confirmed cases at over 17,000 in 20 states.
RELATED: CDC says Cyclosporiasis cases now top 17,000
Cyclosporiasis cases by state
Local perspective:
The FDA said government scientists have now identified cases in three additional states: Georgia, Tennessee and Texas. That brings the total number of states to 20.
By the numbers:
The tally of people sickened by the parasite is now 17,180, according to the CDC. Earlier this summer, the CDC reported far higher numbers: about 29,000 confirmed or suspected cyclospora cases in the U.S. this year, with 922 hospitalizations, according to the agency. Previously, the worst year in the U.S. for infections was 2019, when about 4,700 illnesses were reported nationally.
What is cyclosporiasis?
The backstory:
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea "with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements," according to the CDC. Outbreaks tend to occur most often in the late spring and summer.
The heat-loving parasite infects the bowels and spreads through feces. The illness, called cyclosporiasis, is less common than foodborne illnesses caused by other germs, including salmonella and E. coli. Many cyclospora cases are never linked to a specific food or other source.
What are the symptoms of Cyclospora?
Dig deeper:
Health officials say people infected with Cyclospora develop diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, nausea, vomiting, body aches, headache, and fever. But some who are infected with the illness don’t have any symptoms.
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Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration officials initiated an onsite inspection and sampling at Taylor Farms de Mexico in partnership with Mexican officials, according to the recall notice.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by Reuters, Politico, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX. This story was reported from Orlando.