All employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Ship Sanitation Program were fired even if the cruise ship arrived in Miami and resulted in another norovirus outbreak between passengers and crew.
CDC employees, whose employment was reduced, were responsible for monitoring, tracking and assisting in gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships. CDC officials told CBS News that the layoffs also included an epidemiologist tasked with leading the federal agency outbreak response at Cruise Ships.
Cutting is a problem for Florida. In Florida, passengers often travel to the airport, leaving cruise ships with gastrointestinal viruses. The CDC recorded dozens of outbreaks, mainly from norovirus, during the first four months of 2025. Ten of these ships have departed or docked from Florida or both. The outbreak involved hundreds of passengers and crew members who became ill with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
On Wednesday, the Seabone Cruise Line Encore arrived in Miami after a three-week voyage. Of the approximately 800 people on board, 35 people became ill from the norovirus. Cruise Line reported that it had consulted with officers of the Ship Sanitation Program regarding sanitation cleaning procedures. “VSP monitored the situation remotely, including reviews of ship outbreak responses and sanitation procedures,” the CDC website states.
Employees in the Ship Sanitation Program have been cut as part of a major public health layoff by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services.
A CDC spokesman told the South Florida Sun Sentinel:
The spokesman also said unannounced hygiene tests, monitoring and assistance with gastrointestinal outbreaks, and reporting on cruise ship diseases has not been stopped, and work will be carried out by U.S. Public Health Services personnel.
CBS reported that only one epidemiologist remains on the Ship Sanitation Program team to investigate the outbreak, and that individual is still in the early stages of training.
Florida and many parts of the United States have been battling a record surge in norovirus in recent months, driven primarily by new strains of gastrointestinal virus.
Florida wastewater samples (with seven major cruise ports) show high levels of norovirus as of April 7th. Verily’s wastewater program provides surveillance for noroviruses and other pathogens at 11 sites in Florida. Wastewater testing with all three tracked high levels of norovirus.
Spend your days with Hayes
Subscribe to our free Stephenly newsletter
Columnist Stephanie Hayes shares thoughts, feelings and interesting business with you every Monday.
You’re all signed up!
Want more free weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Check out all options
“We have seen sustained high levels of norovirus GII at all three South Florida wastewater treatment facilities that monitor pathogens since November/December 2024.” “We expect an increase during this season, but the levels we are seeing are significantly higher than in the same period in 2024 and 2023.”
High levels of norovirus have also been reported at three of the four Central Florida (Orange County) wastewater sites. The fourth is the medium level. The closest sites to Port Canaveral, which hosts multiple Disney cruises, have a high level.
“These early warning signs help officials stay ahead of the outbreak. Now, data suggests an increase in transmission risk as travelers come and go,” Lockwood said.
