Federal and state health officials have been investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to salad mixes distributed to McDonald’s by the Fresh Express since mid July.

The latest numbers from the CDC put the parasite outbreak total to over 500 cases from 16 states. Fresh Express pulled the salad mix during the last week of July from McDonald’s.

Last month, John P. Olivo, President, Fresh Express, announced the formation of a Fresh Express Blue-Ribbon Panel to study the Cyclospora parasite.

The appointed chair of this panel is University of Minnesota Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Michael Osterholm, Ph.D., MPH. And he is my guest today.

In addition, I get Dr Osterholm's thoughts on a recent New York Times article about China withholding H7N9 avian flu samples.