CDC Cyclospora Lab Reduced From 11 Staff to Three

The CDC laboratory responsible for genetic testing of cyclospora parasites was reduced from 11 employees to three during staffing cuts implemented last year. A molecular parasitologist who previously led the team said the reduction will limit the lab's ability to respond quickly to outbreaks. He left the agency in September after eight years, citing changes in working conditions.

The CDC lost about 3,000 employees, or roughly one-quarter of its workforce, between January and October 2025. The reductions included both layoffs and participation in a buyout program. The cyclospora lab cuts were first reported by Nature. An HHS spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

As of Thursday, Michigan had recorded more than 4,300 cyclospora cases, with an estimated 7,000 cases nationwide. The CDC has identified lettuce from Taylor Farms as a possible source. The agency is also addressing an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and several domestic outbreaks including measles, E.

coli linked to frozen blueberries, infant botulism in powdered formula, and multiple salmonella incidents. Cyclospora investigation requires stool sample analysis at state labs, followed by genetic testing at the CDC to identify disease clusters. The process also involves patient interviews to trace food exposures from the prior two weeks.

A professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University who previously worked at the CDC said public health surveillance systems had gaps even before the 2025 reductions.