The Trump administration is facing a key messaging test as it tries to stop potentially multiple outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness.
Two months in and thousands of cases later, the outbreak has become a communications nightmare. Experts say confusing messages and a lack of central leadership have left the public in the dark about what produce is safe and distrustful of the Trump administration’s public health response.
Any outbreak of foodborne illness requires careful public communication, experts said. There needs to be a balance in telling people which products to avoid without causing a panic and scaring people away from eating fresh vegetables.
But many Americans are continuing to wonder what they are supposed to do. They don’t know which lettuce is safe, and they don’t know if they can trust the Trump administration to be truthful about the outbreaks. Read more