CDC Cuts Cruise Inspectors During Norovirus Outbreak

Recent layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) have significantly reduced the agency's capacity to conduct health inspections on cruise ships, despite a record surge in norovirus outbreaks this year. The cuts, part of broader reductions ordered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have left only 12 U.S. Public Health Service officers to continue the work previously done by a larger team funded by cruise ship fees, not taxpayer dollars. The CDC, however, insists that critical inspection and monitoring efforts will persist. The layoffs have raised concerns about maintaining health standards on cruise ships, as the program was already strained with staff shortages. The program's remaining capabilities include monitoring outbreaks, inspecting ships, and training cruise staff in public health practices. CDC officials express skepticism about maintaining inspection frequency with reduced manpower, potentially increasing the risk of outbreaks on cruise ships.