The Parasite Problem: How Staff Cuts Exacerbate America’s Public Health Crises

The recent surge in cyclospora cases across the US has exposed a more insidious threat to public health: the devastating effects of last year’s personnel cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Former employees are speaking out about the crippling impact on their agency’s ability to respond.

Joel Barratt, a molecular parasitologist and assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine who previously led the CDC lab responding to cyclospora outbreaks, paints a dire picture. With staff downsized from 11 people to just three, he argues that outbreak responses will be greatly diminished. “Based on simple math,” Barratt says, “these responses—which require rapid, timely responses—are going to suffer.” The consequences are alarming: with cyclospora cases skyrocketing, Barratt warns that other pathogens will also receive inadequate attention.

The CDC’s laboratory cuts are part of a broader trend of mass government layoffs implemented by the Trump administration. Nearly 3,000 employees—about a quarter of the agency—were laid off or accepted buyouts since January 2025, according to WIRED, which reported on this issue in October. The impact is felt most acutely at the local level: with reduced resources, state health departments struggle to analyze stool samples and track disease clusters.

The crisis is compounded by an influx of public health emergencies. Amid Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and multiple US outbreaks, including measles and salmonella, the CDC’s response is being strained. The agency’s attempts to identify the source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak have been hindered by its reduced capacity.

Amira Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University and former CDC epidemic intelligence service officer, notes that even before the cuts in 2025, public health surveillance systems and food safety systems left much to be desired. The current crisis highlights the need for a more robust infrastructure to prevent and respond to outbreaks.

The cyclospora outbreak is a complex challenge. Symptoms take weeks to appear, and people often delay medical care, making it difficult to identify and track cases. Experts emphasize that effective responses require timely coordination between states and the federal government—a process severely compromised by personnel cuts.

The implications of this crisis extend beyond cyclospora. Barratt cautions that we must think about all the other outbreaks we’re not detecting. With public health surveillance systems on the brink of collapse, it is crucial to reevaluate the CDC’s staffing and resources. The agency must be equipped to respond to emerging threats before they become pandemics.

As the country grapples with this mounting crisis, policymakers must recognize the devastating consequences of their actions. Outbreaks continue to spread, and public health crises escalate. It is imperative that the CDC receives the support and resources necessary to contain these threats. Anything less will only exacerbate America’s growing parasite problem.