U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that the cyclospora outbreak is under control [1].

The statement comes amid growing public concern and criticism regarding recent HHS budget cuts as the number of infections continues to climb [2].

Secretary Kennedy addressed the situation on July 21, 2026, and said that the department has successfully identified the source of the parasite [3]. "We do have the outbreak under control," Kennedy said [4].

Cyclospora, a parasite causing cyclosporiasis, typically results in explosive diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress. Current data indicates there are at least 1,600 confirmed cases [5]. The outbreak has spread across five states [5].

While the secretary maintained that the situation is managed, some reports indicate that case numbers continue to rise [6]. The HHS response has faced scrutiny from critics who link the current public health challenge to previous budgetary decisions [2].

Kennedy reiterated his confidence in the agency's current trajectory. "The outbreak is under control," Kennedy said [7]. He said the handling of the crisis was appropriate, emphasizing that the identification of the source is a critical step in halting further transmissions [3].

“"We do have the outbreak under control."”

The tension between the HHS Secretary's claims of control and the rising number of confirmed cases suggests a gap between the government's internal metrics of success and the actual epidemiological spread. If case numbers continue to climb despite the identification of the source, it may indicate that the contaminated product is still in the supply chain or that the budget cuts mentioned by critics have hampered the agency's ability to execute a rapid recall.