Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has stated he will hold Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accountable for a significant outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that causes severe diarrhea. The outbreak earlier this year, which disproportionately affected Michigan, has been linked to shredded lettuce imported from Mexico.
El-Sayed, speaking on CNN, indicated that his approach will be to understand what occurred, assign responsibility, and implement solutions. "When you nominate someone like RFK Jr who is anti-science to run HHS, what you get is a bunch of nasty crap lettuce in the state of Michigan," El-Sayed said, adding that his support for Kennedy would require significant justification.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, the outbreak sickened over 12,000 people across 21 states, marking the largest recorded outbreak of the parasite in the US. Michigan reported approximately 6,000 cases, though state figures suggest a higher number, potentially exceeding 15,000. The outbreak, which was declared over in September, resulted in two reported deaths in Michigan among individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
El-Sayed attributes the outbreak to reductions in funding and staffing at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC, arguing these cuts hampered the agencies' ability to respond effectively. "We have to rebuild the part of the FDA that makes sure that people are eating lettuce where other people have not s***," he stated, emphasizing the need for improved food safety oversight.
During the outbreak, Kennedy Jr. reportedly dismissed claims that staffing cuts had hindered the response, stating that surveillance programs were unaffected and that cuts to the FoodNet program were redundant. The CDC declared the outbreak over on September 11.
Cyclospora, typically spread through contaminated food or water, causes symptoms including explosive diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Unlike common food poisoning, symptoms can be recurrent or persist for weeks without treatment. The parasite is often linked to imported produce, particularly from regions like Mexico and Central America, and can contaminate fresh produce if irrigated with water containing human sewage.