Outbreaks

While cyclosporiasis cases in the U.S. keep climbing, Ebola’s been booted from Uganda.

CDC data released Wednesday showed 6,707 lab-confirmed cases of the explosive-diarrhea parasite plus 11,500 cases under investigation, with numbers expected to rise through August.

Beyond the largest outbreak linked to Taylor Farms’ lettuce at Taco Bell, the FDA is investigating five other outbreaks now affecting 45 states. Some are blaming last year’s CDC foodborne illness surveillance scale-back for the ~6x increase in cases; federal health authorities deny the connection.

Meanwhile, Uganda officially declared itself Ebola-free yesterday after a WHO-required 42-day monitoring period. Their swift response, including a presidential plea to “stop shaking hands,” helped contain the outbreak in 74 days with 20 cases and two deaths. Next door, Congo’s Ebola crisis continues to spiral with 3,262 cases and 1,437 deaths.

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Verse to consider whether you’re infected with sickness, nursing relational wounds, limping through joblessness, or persevering through profound pain… “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
John 16:33 (CSB) (read full passage)