CDC Funding Cuts Impact U.S. Preparedness for Disease Outbreaks, Experts Warn
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has experienced significant funding cuts, particularly affecting its ability to combat parasitic diseases and other infectious threats. According to former CDC officials, these reductions have led to a decrease in staff and expertise, leaving the U.S. less prepared for future pandemics. The CDC's laboratory specializing in cyclospora, a rare parasite, has seen its staff reduced from 11 to three. Additionally, funding for mRNA vaccines, crucial for pandemic response, has been slashed. These cuts come amid a backdrop of increasing disease outbreaks, including measles and Ebola, and legislative actions in over half of U.S. states that limit public health measures during emergencies. 
