The recent cuts to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding have left the country less prepared for disease outbreaks, according to former officials. The rapid dismantling of the public health system at all levels has resulted in a dire situation, with the US now in a worse position than before the Covid pandemic. The CDC has lost funding for battling parasites, which are significant global killers, and experts tasked with monitoring potential outbreaks have been laid off or resigned without being replaced. This has led to a significant drop in expertise in parasitic diseases, with laboratory methods and staff numbers suffering as a result. The CDC laboratory specializing in cyclospora, for instance, has fallen from 11 people to three. The loss of funding for mRNA vaccines, which would be significant for battling the next pandemic, further exacerbates the issue. The US is now facing a growing number of outbreaks, with measles cases surpassing last year's tally. The confusion and conflicting messages from federal leadership are making the situation worse, with states struggling to respond to CDC guidance. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officers and regional organizations are stepping in to fill the gap, but the need for a robust public health system has never been more apparent. The cuts to the CDC and the broader public health system have left the US vulnerable to disease outbreaks, and it will take time and effort to rebuild the necessary expertise and capacity.
