Hey, frendz! Your scoop-sniffing, tail-wagging JournoDog here with a report from the kitchen tiles.
The hoomans on the Loud Shiny Rectangle and Thumb-Scrolling Hand Box are currently barking about a major outbreak that I can’t quite pronounce.
As much as I hear it from my sources with paws on the ground, it’s called the cyclo-poro outbreak.
Now, this is a fancy sciency word for tiny, invisible parasite monsters invading hooman tummies. Word from the smart hooman scientists is that contaminated fresh produce may be behind these tummy troubles.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of hundreds of cases across 17 states since late spring. My own Mitten State even has 600+ reported most recently.
Scarily, it isn’t fun for hoomans. And by extension, their beloved pets who must endure their person’s symptoms – including hooman pity moans, explosive butt mud, and zapped energy that means no OUTSIDE strolls or zoomie chases.
I’m here to share the news that we must pawz-itively protect our bellies from these poopsie parasites!
Ma and Dad always lecture me about being careful what I sniff and swallow, so they must do the same.
It’s so tempting to graze outside, ‘specially when there is so much yumminess to choose from:
- salad (grass)
- free-range salad (fence-line tall grass)
- pretty salad (flowers)
- thick crunchy salad (weeds)
- anything on the ground that we lick just because it is possibly curious and lick-worthy
The ground is a buffet, frendz. But it can be a minefield of tummy troubles and causes tummy rumbles sometimes.
I’m also told that in a land far away a long long time ago, my JournoDog predecessor (Riley Dog) once tracked down a nasty parasite of her own. That led to a yucky situation of explosive messes in her metal jail B-E-D. As the story goes, Dad abandoned Ma and Riley for work travel and so Ma had to handle the hazardous waste cleanup op all by herself.
Typical Dad.
Fortunately, I’ve never had that. Yes, my tummy does rumble when I eat stuff outside, and Mom and Dad grumble at me about it. But it’s just a part of our life because I’m a curious boy, sniffing sniffs and licking scents to nibble on.
So, with all that in mind, I get this latest news scare. Tummy rumbles are no joke.
Why did this happen?
No one is 100% sure. But any responsible journalist (canine or hooman) can’t overlook this political policy tidbit:
In late July 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disbanded its Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria – the very division tracking this type of health issue. This was part of broader budget cuts and workforce reductions across federal health agencies.
- Yes, these parasite-watching scientists and staffers were moved to other CDC roles.
- Yes, that office disappeared.
- And yes, more broadly the CDC scaled back its mandatory monitoring programs that included tracking certain foodborne and water-borne parasites – including this cyclo-poro illness.
Just a coincidence? This doggo doesn’t think so. It all comes around.
What to do now?
To keep your hoomans safe from these microscopic belly invaders, I’ve compiled an essential guide from a doggo’s perspective on what to do, based on advice from CDC and hooman scientists:
- Be Careful with Lettuce & Bagged Salad! These pre-washed salad mixes and kits have been linked to past outbreaks. Big green balls of lettuce deserve a pre-soak and wash, too.
- Rinse fruit, especially raspberries. Be thorough and wash fruit under clean running water before any hooman consumes them.
- Wash veggies properly and make use of a clean brush to scrub firm produce before eating.
- Cook greens and veggies if possible, as the CDC says 158°F (70°C) or higher will destroy the parasite belly monsters.
Luckily, this parasite doesn’t seem to have latched on to chmkn or cheese. So we are entirely safe on the snack front, frendz!
Word is this cyclo-poro invader isn’t spread from hooman-to-hooman, and so that’s also good that it likely won’t get passed on to us from our people.
Those of us with fur should be wary and help by keeping our noses out of the weeds and our bellies safe from other belly invaders.
Until the news beckons like a barking dog you can’t ignore, JournoDog out.
Always remember: Love your pets. Support local journalism. Be aware of hidden dangers and disinformation. And try to find smiles and happz for your heart every day.
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