251: Cyclospora Outbreak 2026: Behind the Laboratory Response
Show notes
In 2026, a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis led to a significant increase in testing across clinical and public health laboratories. How did laboratories recognize the increase in cases? What diagnostic approaches were used, and how did laboratory data contribute to the outbreak investigation?
In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. Anisha Misra from Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Marie-Claire Rowlinson from bioMérieux, and Dr. Duane Newton from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to discuss the laboratory response to the 2026 Cyclospora outbreak.
The conversation explores diagnostic methods for Cyclospora cayetanensis, the challenges of managing increased testing volumes, and the use of diagnostic data to identify emerging trends. The guests also discuss the role of molecular testing and sequencing in public health investigations, the importance of collaboration between clinical laboratories, industry, and public health agencies, and lessons learned that may help laboratories prepare for future outbreaks.
Join us for a discussion about the critical role of clinical microbiology laboratories in outbreak detection, investigation, and response.
Guests
Anisha Misra, PhD — Cleveland Clinic
Marie-Claire Rowlinson, PhD — bioMérieux
Duane Newton, PhD — Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Resources
CDC – Cyclosporiasis: https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/
CDC DPDx – Cyclosporiasis: https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/cyclosporiasis/
FDA – Cyclospora: https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/cyclospora
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