In a move that feels like cutting your brakes on the way down a hill, the CDC laid off its entire team from the Vessel Sanitation Program this week. Unfortunately, the cuts happened just as another norovirus outbreak hit a cruise ship pulling into Miami.

Let’s rewind. For decades, the VSP served as the federal watchdog for gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships. They monitored, tracked, and helped contain outbreaks that could spread quickly. But as of this week, every full-time employee on that team, including its lead epidemiologist, is out of a job.

This came amid sweeping public health cuts under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to “streamline” the department. Unfortunately, norovirus didn’t get the memo.

Last Wednesday, Seabourn Cruise Line’s Encore docked in Miami after a 3.5-week journey. 35 people aboard fell sick with the infamous stomach bug. The cruise line said it coordinated remotely with the now-defunct VSP to clean up the mess. According to the CDC, the VSP “reviewed sanitation procedures” but wasn’t physically present.

Norovirus, for the record, is no minor nuisance. It spreads like wildfire and packs symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. And it’s everywhere. In just the first four months of 2025, the CDC tracked 12 cruise ship outbreaks – 10 tied to Florida ports, the Sun Sentinel shared.

Now, with just one new, still-training epidemiologist left on the VSP team, the job falls to U.S. Public Health Service officers. Meanwhile, wastewater data from Verily shows Florida’s norovirus levels have been off the charts since late 2024. South and Central Florida are especially hit hard, with high readings near major ports like Miami and Port Canaveral.

So, as cruise ships bring thousands ashore, Florida’s left navigating a public health swell…with fewer hands on deck.