The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is drastically scaling back its monitoring of gastrointestinal outbreaks, including norovirus, on cruise ships. This comes as the agency has reportedly laid off all full-time staff within its Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), coinciding with a year of unusually high outbreak numbers.
This news, initially reported by CBS News, reveals a concerning shift in public health oversight. While a small team of 12 U.S. Public Health Service officers will reportedly remain for outbreak response, the epidemiologist leading the CDC’s efforts has been let go. This year has already seen a dozen outbreaks on cruises within U.S. waters, primarily norovirus, significantly exceeding the usual rate.
These VSP layoffs appear to be connected to broader job cuts across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Trump administration. Following recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans last month to eliminate 10,000 full-time positions, including 2,400 at the CDC.
Funding Concerns and Staffing Shortages
The justification for these cuts, framed as a cost-saving and efficiency measure, is questionable, particularly regarding the VSP. The program is funded through fees levied on cruise ship companies, not taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, according to officials cited by CBS News, the VSP was already grappling with staffing shortages before these layoffs. Despite these challenges, VSP staff managed to inspect nearly 200 ships in the last fiscal year.
Norovirus on the Rise
The scaling back of the VSP comes at a time when norovirus cases are surging. The U.S. has experienced a higher-than-average number of outbreaks since last summer, both on land and at sea. This increase may be linked to the emergence of a new norovirus variant.
Uncertain Future for Cruise Ship Sanitation
In a statement to CBS News, HHS maintained that “critical programs in the CDC will continue under Secretary Kennedy’s vision to streamline HHS.” However, with the current surge in cruise ship outbreaks, the removal of dedicated VSP staff raises serious concerns about the future of sanitation oversight and passenger health.
A Year of Outbreaks and an Uncertain Future
In 2024, there were 18 reported cruise ship outbreaks, followed by 14 in 2023. This year’s numbers are already on track to surpass those totals, even before the peak summer cruise season begins. With the CDC’s capacity for monitoring and response significantly diminished, the risk of norovirus and other illnesses spreading on cruise ships is likely to increase.
With the current surge in outbreaks and the reduction in oversight, the health and safety of cruise passengers are now more uncertain than ever. The long-term impact of these cuts on public health remains to be seen.
