JONATHAN M. METSCH, Dr.P.H. – Tracking Emerging Public Health Challenges – May 12, 2016 – Hantavirus
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program experienced significant layoffs almost exactly one year ago despite record outbreaks at the time, according to a 2025 report from CBS News.”
“In April 2025, CBS News reported that all full-time employees working for the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) had been fired, leaving a smaller group of 12 U.S. Public Health Service officers. The layoffs came amid a “record” number of norovirus outbreaks in the U.S. last year, per the report.
According to the CDC, there were 18 norovirus outbreaks on ships in the VSP’s jurisdiction in 2025, and five other outbreaks reported, some of which had unknown causative agents. At least three outbreaks with various causes have been reported this year so far.
Per the CBS News report, the VSP’s epidemiologist, who led the agency’s outbreak response on cruise ships was laid off at the time. Only one epidemiologist remained on the program’s team at the time, however they were in the early stages of training, according to the report. It reportedly takes up to six months for new cruise ships inspectors to be fully trained.
Despite the layoffs last year, a spokesperson for the CDC said the Vessel Sanitation Program remains “fully staffed.”
“CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) remains fully staffed, including epidemiologists, and continues to carry out all core program activities for cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction,” the statement read.”
“As the VSP only inspects ships under U.S. jurisdiction, they would not be involved in any inspections for the Hondius. However, the CDC confirmed in a statement on May 6 that the U.S. travelers aboard the ship are being closely monitored, and that the risk to the American public is extremely low at this time.””
1.CDC’s Full-Time Cruise Ship Inspectors Were Laid Off One Year Ago amid Record Outbreaks: Report, By Natalia Senanayake, https://people.com/cdc-full-time-cruise-ship-inspectors-were-laid-off-one-year-ago-amid-record-outbreaks-report-11969485
curated by Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H.
Clinical Professor of Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai