Cyclosporiasis - You Know, the Parasite Affecting People All Across the Country.

by Brian Dugas

For those of you who don’t know, one of the previous duties of the CDC was to monitor foodborne illnesses through the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. Of course this network, and 60 other programs were eliminated by the present administration. The number of pathogens being surveilled dropped from 8 to 2, with Cyclosporiasis being one them cut. This is in addition to a 50% budget cut in 2026, ¼ of the workforce being cut, and the rescinding or blocking of 600 million dollars worth of grants.

Erica Schwartz was recently nominated to be the new CDC Director and has bipartisan support. She is a real physician and lawyer with years of experience in public health in the military and has served as the Deputy Surgeon General in the past. She is a black woman, and get this, she believes in vaccines.

She is quoted as saying ”If confirmed, my first priority will be restoring trust in public health institutions through radical transparency and unwavering scientific Integrity,” Schwartz said,  “As CDC director, my sacred responsibility is to provide the American people with public health guidance that is clear, honest and evidence based. I will never betray the science.”

I don’t know about you, but I almost fell off my chair. There is some question as to whether she will be able to stand up to the pressure from her political bosses whose names I won’t mention, but it seems to be a positive step and demonstrates that pressure does work on our politicians. Now is the time to use that pressure on your elected officials. Stay informed, get active, and most important of all, get out and vote.

There are a few important elections happening in our area for the November elections. They could use our help, and Ward 12 is looking for some pollworkers.