Parasite

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said a cyclosporiasis outbreak is 'under control' even as at least 1,600 cases have been reported across five US states. Cyclospora is an intestinal parasite typically spread through contaminated food or water. Officials say the outbreak is being monitored, though the discrepancy between the reassurance and the case count is drawing attention.

Taylor Farms has issued a recall of lettuce products across 27 US states amid an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite. Health officials are urging consumers to check packaged lettuce labels and discard affected products, while reported illnesses linked to the outbreak continue to draw national attention.

Federal health officials have tied an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite, to shredded lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations. The CDC and FDA are investigating the outbreak, and the fast-food chain has drawn attention as health authorities work to trace the contaminated lettuce supply and prevent further infections.

The CDC has recorded more than 11,500 cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite, across 41 US states. The outbreak figure is drawing attention as health officials track the foodborne infection, which is often linked to contaminated fresh produce and typically peaks in the summer months.

The FDA says federal health officials have investigated five separate clusters of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness typically caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite. The news was picked up by multiple local ABC stations. No further details about the sources, locations, or number of people affected were provided in the reports.

A UK resident who grew up in Nigeria says he was told not to donate blood again after screening found malaria parasites in his blood, despite having left Nigeria twelve years earlier. He raised the case with Gilmore, prompting discussion about UK blood donation rules for people from malaria-endemic regions and how long the parasite can persist.

Scientists and enthusiasts are discussing how certain parasites and fungi manipulate the behavior of living hosts to complete their reproductive life cycles. Well-documented examples include fungi that control ants' muscle movements to force them to climb and bite, wasps that alter cockroach movement, and hairworms that drive insects toward water. The topic is drawing attention as a striking example of mind control in nature.

Health content is circulating the claim that if people show a particular symptom, medicine will not help, in connection with more than 1.3 million parasite infections and their causes. The discussion is drawing wide attention as audiences react to warnings about recognizing the symptom early and understanding how the infections spread.

Infection with the roundworm, or spoelworm, could be an answer to a new pandemic, according to a Dutch report. The parasite appears to cause far less damage to the lungs during infection, which has drawn attention as a possible lead for future outbreak response. The idea of deliberately studying a worm infection as protection is striking, and it is prompting curiosity and debate in the Netherlands about how such a finding could be used.

Discussion in the Netherlands centres on roundworms and whether they could have health benefits. A Dutch news item asks whether people could become healthier through roundworm infections, reviving interest in the idea that certain parasites might influence the immune system. There is no confirmation of any proven benefit, and the claim remains speculative.

Wildlife officials in Colorado are monitoring two of the state's reintroduced wolf packs after animals showed potential signs of a skin parasite, likely mange. The state is now weighing how to diagnose the condition and whether treatment is feasible in the wild. Observers are watching closely because the health of the wolf population is central to the state's contested wolf reintroduction effort.

Scientists and science communicators are highlighting how several natural parasites and fungi manipulate the behaviour of living hosts to complete their reproductive life cycles. Examples include fungi that control ants' muscle movements, forcing them to climb and bite, and parasitic wasps that alter host behaviour. The examples are being shared as striking illustrations of mind control in nature.

Researchers at Texas A&M are studying the genetics of screwworms, flesh-eating parasites that threaten livestock, in an effort to improve how outbreaks are detected and contained. The work aims to give animal health officials better tools to respond quickly if the pest spreads, amid renewed concern about its potential return to the United States.

Quanta Magazine reports new research revealing how the malaria parasite invades human cells, with scientists capturing the entry process in unprecedented detail. The findings shed light on the mechanical process the parasite uses to break into red blood cells, knowledge that could inform new approaches to blocking infection. Readers are sharing the piece as an accessible explainer of recent work on one of the world's deadliest diseases.

Texas A&M researchers are set to study the genetics of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating fly parasite, in an effort to strengthen the United States' response to the pest. The work aims to give scientists better tools to track and contain outbreaks, following renewed concern over the parasite's northward spread from Central America toward US livestock.

Health authorities have confirmed the first cases of screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae infest the wounds of warm-blooded animals, in Arizona. Officials are urging pet and livestock owners to check animals for wounds and infestations and to seek veterinary care promptly. The finding raises concern about a potential northward spread of the parasite, which has been moving up from Central America and Mexico in recent years.

US health authorities are tracking an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite and typically linked to contaminated fresh produce. Cases have now been confirmed in 32 states, with reports outlining where infections are concentrated. Outlets are urging awareness of symptoms such as diarrhoea and fatigue, particularly during summer months when outbreaks are most common.

New research shows that when consumers search for Cyclospora, a parasite linked to foodborne illness outbreaks, sales of bagged salad products drop sharply. The findings suggest that online search behaviour itself amplifies the economic damage of food safety scares, with shoppers avoiding packaged leafy greens even when recalls are narrow or limited. Food industry observers say the results highlight how public health warnings and online information spread quickly shape purchasing decisions in the produce aisle.

Cyclospora outbreaks in the United States are drawing attention for their cost, with food industry coverage highlighting the financial and public health impact of repeated contamination events. The parasite, spread through contaminated produce, has caused recurring illness clusters in recent seasons, prompting scrutiny of supply chains, testing practices and the burden outbreaks place on growers, retailers and health agencies.

Researchers at Texas A&M University are launching work on the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae infest the wounds of warm-blooded animals and can be deadly to livestock. The parasite has been moving back toward the United States from Central America, raising concern among cattle producers and agricultural officials in Texas and beyond.

A science piece explains how a 'zombie' can be created in nature, pointing to parasites such as the Ophiocordyceps fungus that hijack the behaviour of ants and other hosts. The article walks through the biology behind real-world mind control in animals, a topic that regularly fascinates and unsettles readers.

Ranchers along the US-Mexico border say the fight against New World screwworm remains critical even as cattle trade with Mexico is set to resume. The flesh-eating pest parasite has disrupted cross-border livestock shipments, and producers warn that reopening trade without sustained containment efforts could risk reintroducing the parasite northward.

Workers at Frankfurt Airport have died after contracting malaria, according to German reporting. The infections are believed to be linked to their work at the airport, raising questions about how the parasite was transmitted there and about protective measures for staff. Health authorities are expected to investigate the cases, and the deaths have prompted concern about malaria reaching countries where it is not normally present.

Lebanese health officials have issued a statement concerning suspected cases of Trichinella, a parasitic infection typically linked to eating undercooked meat. The announcement is drawing attention as authorities work to confirm the cases and inform the public about risks and precautions. Further details on the number of suspected cases and any affected regions have not yet been made widely available.