Nearly 1,300 “disease detectives” at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta were fired as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate government waste.
The mass firings targeted mainly probationary workers at federal agencies who have less than a year on the job.
75,000 workers accepted President Trump’s buyout offer to resign and continue to receive paychecks until September 2025. A federal judge gave the green light for the buyout program on Feb. 12.
At the CDC, a group of researchers known as “the disease detectives” were let go on Friday. All or most of the group were probationary employees who were not employed during the COVID pandemic.
Critics warn that the CDC jobs are essential and the country is not safe.
“The country is less safe. These are the deployable assets critical for investigating new threats, from anthrax to Zika,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, a former top-ranking CDC official.
Democratic lawmakers claim the job terminations would put Americans at risk of disease outbreaks. They pointed to a recent Ebola scare in New York City as an example.
However, Ebola was ruled out as the cause of an infectious disease contracted by 2 patients in NYC.
The media gathered outside a Manhattan urgent care facility as the 2 patients were transported to a hospital by first responders wearing hazmat suits.
The news media captured video of the patients, and the news made headlines around the country.
However, law enforcement sources said the infections were likely caused by a norovirus and not Ebola.
Norovirus is one of the viruses that causes gastroenteritis, also known as a stomach bug or stomach flu. The symptoms are fever, nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, stomach pain, headaches, and joint pain. The symptoms usually last from 1-3 days.
To avoid contracting norovirus, always wash your hands before touching your face or handling food.
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