Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Debilitating Stomach Bug Sickens Nearly 1,000 In Michigan
AP: Cyclospora Outbreak Cases Top 1,000 In Michigan And Ohio
Nearly 1,000 people in Michigan have been diagnosed with a parasitic infection that can cause weeks of watery diarrhea, making it the largest such outbreak in state history and one of the nation’s largest in years. No deaths have been reported and the source of the cyclospora infections hasn’t been identified. Meanwhile, investigations into similar illnesses have been going on in 28 other states, including in Ohio, where people just across the Michigan border are also becoming sick. (Stobbe, 7/8)
CNN: What To Know About Cyclospora Parasite And How To Avoid It
Got a nasty stomach bug that won’t go away? It could be cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes weeks of debilitating diarrhea, cramps and bloating. This infection tends to occur during the warm summer months, but several states are reporting increases in cases beyond what they would normally expect at this point in the year. (Goodman, 7/8)
In other national and global health threats —
CIDRAP: CDC Confirms 12 Sick In Ongoing E Coli Outbreak Linked To Frozen Blueberries
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a food safety alert for an ongoing outbreak of E. coli infections linked to frozen organic blueberries. At least 12 people in two states have been sickened during the outbreak. Four people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. Eleven of the case-patients are from Florida, with a single case reported in Georgia. Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 11, 2026, to June 5, 2026, the CDC said. Case-patients range in age from 2 to 88 years old. (Soucheray, 7/8)
AP: New World Screwworm Cases In Texas And New Mexico Spark Pet Safety Warnings
Two New World screwworm cases in dogs are among more than 30 confirmed instances in Texas and New Mexico, prompting warnings Wednesday from veterinarians and humane societies that pet owners need to remain vigilant to protect their animals. The parasite reappeared in cattle in the U.S. in June, more than 50 years after it had been largely eradicated from the country. The pest is actually the larvae of the New World screwworm fly. It eats live flesh and fluids rather than dead material, as the larvae of most fly species do. (Hanna, 7/8)
NBC News: Grand Canyon Rafters Mystery Illnesses, Prompting Investigation
Multiple people who paddled the Colorado River have described symptoms including fever, chills, fatigue and fluid in their lungs. (Bush, 7/9)
Bloomberg: Ebola Responders Reach Breaking Point As Strike Hits Hardest-Hit Congo Towns
Ebola responders in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s hardest-hit areas have been striking this week over unpaid benefits and deteriorating working conditions, complicating efforts to contain a virus that’s infected more than 1,700 people and killed at least 600. The industrial action in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, and the neighboring town of Rwampara, that began early in the week was still continuing, the National Institute of Public Health said in a report Wednesday. The health zones have recorded a combined 847 confirmed Ebola infections — almost half the country’s total. (Gale, 7/8)
