Cyclosporiasis

Florida reported 66 cases of the gastrointestinal illness, down from the previous week's count of 87. That paralleled national numbers as the head of FDA assured Americans it was OK to eat lettuce.

The Florida Department of Health's most recent day reflects from July 25 to Aug. 1 The state's total count is 355 cases since May 1, a benchmark date tied to the first outbreaks U.S. outbreaks.

A USF expert says Americans' dependence on imported produce means the country might need to intervene to ensure it's safe.

There have been 252 cases in Florida since June 1, around the time outbreaks of the disease were first reported in five Midwest states, according to the state health department.

The state health department added 60 confirmed cases for a total of 154 since May 1, when officials began identifying an outbreak of the gastrointestinal illness around the country.

A USF professor of environmental health biology says funding cuts scaled back the CDC's FoodNet surveillance network, reducing monitoring of foodborne illnesses such as cyclosporiasis.