Michigan health officials announced Monday that two people have died amid the ongoing record-breaking outbreak of explosive diarrhea caused by the foodborne parasite Cyclospora. Yes, you read that correctly - explosive diarrhea, which is already a phrase that should never appear in a serious news article, but here we are.

Cyclosporiasis fatalities are extremely rare, which makes the deaths all the more notable. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said both individuals had "significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration." So, not exactly the picture of health, but still - they died from diarrhea. Let that sink in.

Both victims fell ill before Taylor Farms recalled its shredded iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico, which has been linked to thousands of cases in at least nine states. Cyclospora is a unicellular parasite that spreads through human feces and often hitches a ride on fresh produce with uneven surfaces, like lettuce. Past culprits have included fresh herbs, raspberries, green onions, and snow peas - basically a salad bar of regret.

While the deaths made headlines Monday, federal health agencies under the Trump administration were mostly silent. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is conducting traceback investigations, hasn't updated its outbreak investigation page since July 24 - nearly two weeks ago. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added a banner saying it was "aware" of the two deaths but didn't update its reporting data to include them. Awareness is great, but maybe update the spreadsheet too?

Ars Technica reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for answers. Press Secretary Emily Hilliard confirmed the Michigan information and said that "FDA and CDC plan to update overall illness numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths this week." So, eventually. Maybe.

Outside experts speculate the sluggish response stems from budget and staffing cuts, along with widespread upheaval at the agencies. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a history of disparaging vaccines, has been redirecting attention to wellness campaigns like diet and exercise. Two weeks ago, he told reporters the outbreak was "under control." Last week, he launched a cooking show on YouTube, with the first episode featuring a fresh salad. The irony is so thick you could spread it on toast.

With no up-to-date federal tally, outside experts are tracking state counts. Local health departments report between 17,000 and nearly 23,000 cases, including confirmed and probable. At least 45 states have reported cases. Michigan alone has over 11,000 cases and 193 hospitalizations. For context, annual cyclosporiasis counts are usually between 2,000 and 5,000. This is not under control.

While Michigan hopes the outbreak has peaked, Missouri saw its case count nearly double, from 593 on July 26 to 1,095 on August 2. Missouri isn't among the nine states linked to Taylor Farms lettuce, but the recall covers 27 states, so it's probably in the splash zone.