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CDC reinstates hundreds of workers
News brief
Today at 4:03 p.m.
Chris Dall, MA
Topics
Public Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reinstating hundreds of employees who were fired in earlier this year, according to media reports.
Fox News, which first reported the news, said the reinstated employees come from the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, the National Center for Environmental Health, the Immediate Office of the Director, and the Global Health Center. Among the rehired employees are staffers at a lab that does testing for sexually transmitted infections, and scientists who work on lead poisoning, according to the Associated Press.
The reinstated workers, who were notified of the move by email yesterday morning, represent roughly 20% of the 2,400 CDC employees dismissed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under a Reduction in Force (RIF) in early April, CNN reports. The RIF and other layoffs at HHS divisions have been spurred by the Department of Government Efficiency. A
pattern of reinstatements
The layoffs at the CDC aren't the first that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has had to walk back. In March, 180 CDC workers fired in February were told they could come back to work. In May, Kennedy reinstated more than 300 employees who had been laid off from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
"Under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, the nation’s critical public health functions remain intact and effective," HHS Director of Communications Andrew Nixon told CNN in a statement. “HHS is streamlining operations without compromising mission-critical work."
A group representing fired CDC employees told the AP that the reinstatements don't undo the damage that Kennedy and the Trump administration are doing to public health.
"Bringing a few hundred people back to work out of thousands fired is a start, but there are still countless programs at CDC that have been cut, which will lead to increased disease and death," said Abby Tighe, one of the founding members of Fired But Fighting.
Measles activity rises in Kansas, Iowa; US nears 2019 case count
News brief
Today at 3:20 p.m.
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Topics
Measles
Yesterday Kansas reported four new measles cases, all linked to an ongoing outbreak in the southwest part of the state. Kansas now has 76 measles cases in total, 74 of which are associated with the outbreak.
Officials said 11 counties in the state have reported cases. Sixty-three of the case-patients are under the age of 18. All new cases reported this week are in unvaccinated children.
Iowa case in unvaccinated child with international travel history
An unvaccinated child from Eastern Iowa is now the third reported measles case in that state. The child had recently traveled internationally. The case isn't linked to the earlier two cases.
Overall, the United States has seen almost 1,200 measles cases this year, threatening the elimination status the country has held since 2000.
Cases this year have almost topped the total in 2019, when the United States saw 1,249 confirmed measles cases, which is the highest single-year case count in recent history.
ALL BRIEFS
CDC reinstates hundreds of workers
News brief
Today at 4:03 p.m.
Chris Dall, MA
Topics
Public Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reinstating hundreds of employees who were fired in earlier this year, according to media reports.
Fox News, which first reported the news, said the reinstated employees come from the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, the National Center for Environmental Health, the Immediate Office of the Director, and the Global Health Center. Among the rehired employees are staffers at a lab that does testing for sexually transmitted infections, and scientists who work on lead poisoning, according to the Associated Press.
The reinstated workers, who were notified of the move by email yesterday morning, represent roughly 20% of the 2,400 CDC employees dismissed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under a Reduction in Force (RIF) in early April, CNN reports. The RIF and other layoffs at HHS divisions have been spurred by the Department of Government Efficiency. A
pattern of reinstatements
The layoffs at the CDC aren't the first that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has had to walk back. In March, 180 CDC workers fired in February were told they could come back to work. In May, Kennedy reinstated more than 300 employees who had been laid off from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
"Under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, the nation’s critical public health functions remain intact and effective," HHS Director of Communications Andrew Nixon told CNN in a statement. “HHS is streamlining operations without compromising mission-critical work."
A group representing fired CDC employees told the AP that the reinstatements don't undo the damage that Kennedy and the Trump administration are doing to public health.
"Bringing a few hundred people back to work out of thousands fired is a start, but there are still countless programs at CDC that have been cut, which will lead to increased disease and death," said Abby Tighe, one of the founding members of Fired But Fighting.
Measles activity rises in Kansas, Iowa; US nears 2019 case count
News brief
Today at 3:20 p.m.
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Topics
Measles
Yesterday Kansas reported four new measles cases, all linked to an ongoing outbreak in the southwest part of the state. Kansas now has 76 measles cases in total, 74 of which are associated with the outbreak.
Officials said 11 counties in the state have reported cases. Sixty-three of the case-patients are under the age of 18. All new cases reported this week are in unvaccinated children.
Iowa case in unvaccinated child with international travel history
An unvaccinated child from Eastern Iowa is now the third reported measles case in that state. The child had recently traveled internationally. The case isn't linked to the earlier two cases.
Overall, the United States has seen almost 1,200 measles cases this year, threatening the elimination status the country has held since 2000.
Cases this year have almost topped the total in 2019, when the United States saw 1,249 confirmed measles cases, which is the highest single-year case count in recent history.
ALL BRIEFS