CDC’s cruise inspectors laid off as ship arrives in Florida with a norovirus outbreak

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — All full-time employees in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program were laid off this week, even as a cruise ship arrived in Miami with another norovirus outbreak among passengers and crew. The CDC employees whose jobs were cut were responsible for monitoring, tracking and assisting with gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships.

The epidemiologist tasked with leading the federal agency’s outbreak response on cruise ships also was included in the layoffs, CDC officials told CBS News . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.



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