The Louisiana Department of Health has now confirmed an additional 12 cases of cyclosporiasis this past week, bringing the total since the start of the outbreak to 68. To put that number in perspective, that’s almost double the typical number of cases it sees during the same time period in a given year. The FDA originally traced the source of the outbreak to contaminated lettuce from Taylor Farms, but it now says that test was a false positive. Senator Bill Cassidy says the FDA should not have jumped the gun in its assessment.
“Clearly, it would have been better not to have said that. It has an incredible impact upon Taylor Farms, if it’s potentially not true. They are trying to bring facts to the attention of the public as soon as possible, so I get that,” Cassidy said.
Taylor Farms is still recalling its lettuce out of an abundance of caution. Cassidy says whether Taylor Farms is confirmed to be the source of the cyclospora, it underscores the importance of being totally sure of these things before going public with the information.
“In fairness, this is a difficult organism to isolate; but when you’re going to impact consumption, then you need to have your facts correct before you release them,” Cassidy noted.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the cyclosporiasis outbreak is under control, and there’s no cause for concern over previous cuts to the program that tracks food poisoning. Cassidy says he will be requesting a briefing on that.
“There was kind of a blunt axe approach to cutting CDC and other public health agencies that would have helped in the response. Just because Secretary Kennedy says that, doesn’t mean I believe it,” Cassidy said.