CATEGORY / epidemiology

Since May 1, 2026, thousands of people across at least 34 U.S. states have become ill with cyclosporiasis, a diarrheal disease. The CDC has confirmed over 1,600 laboratory-confirmed cases and is investigating thousands more suspected infections, making this an unusually large and geographically widespread event

The exact source has not yet been identified. Investigators believe the outbreak is linked to fresh produce, but they have not been able to pinpoint a single food item, grower, or distributor. The evidence so far suggests there may actually be multiple overlapping outbreaks involving different foods in different regions rather than one contaminated product. Michigan investigators are reportedly focusing particularly on lettuce and bagged salad products. So, in any event, this ain’t over yet.

While more than 140 people have been hospitalized so far, thankfully (at the time of writing this article), no one has died. (more…)

(Because this topic being what it is, I think it’s probably important to remind readers that I’m a Global Health Epidemiologist and Professor with the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. I’m not a direct researcher of Ebola, but developing some familiarity with the disease is unavoidable in my overall work with the health care systems of lower-income countries.)  

The life of an epidemiologist in the 2020s is never boring. Last week, the big news was hantavirus. Today, it’s Ebola. If you don’t know, there is a significant Ebola outbreak happening right now in Africa. As of May 20–22, WHO and ECDC reports indicate that there are approximately 600 cases, 139 deaths, 51 laboratory-confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and 2 confirmed imported cases in Uganda. The actual numbers may be higher because surveillance in conflict zones is difficult. WHO officials have said the virus may have circulated undetected for months before recognition. (more…)

Because of the content of this article, I might need to remind readers who I am. I’m an Epidemiologist and a tenured Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. This probably won’t cut down on the number of donks who are tempted to comment weird anti-science stuff after this article, but you never know. I tried. (more…)