12 claims about cyclospora, other parasites we've fact-checked

In the summer of 2026, news of people experiencing "explosive diarrhea" made its way across the country due to a widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis. A collaboration of federal agencies led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made tracking of the cyclospora parasite behind the outbreak, along with other pathogens, optional in 2025. Before the cyclosporiasis outbreak, online rumors claimed that the Department of Government Efficiency's cuts had caused a resurgence of New World screwworm in the United States. The parasite had been largely eradicated in the country since the 1960s. Snopes is no stranger to covering stories that cause others to avert their eyes, so we dug into our archives to compile 12 stories related to parasitic organisms. Sources Christensen, Laerke. "Did DOGE Cuts Cause Screwworm Outbreak in US? We Investigated." Snopes, Snopes.com, 12 June 2026, https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/06/12/doge-cuts-screwworm/. Accessed 16 July 2026.Esposito, Joey. "Trump's CDC Cut Tracking of 'Explosive Diarrhea' Parasite Before 2026 Outbreak." Snopes, Snopes.com, 14 July 2026, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cyclospora-parasite-trump-cuts/. Accessed 16 July 2026. By Joey Esposito Joey Esposito has written for a variety of entertainment publications. He's into music, video games ... and birds. Article Tags