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BumRushDaShow

(172,302 posts) Sun May 10, 2026, 07:23 AM May 10

'Empty and vapid' CDC finally responds to hantavirus outbreak. But experts say it's too little, too late

Source: The Guardian

Sat 9 May 2026 16.11 EDT
Last modified on Sun 10 May 2026 03.01 EDT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed it is sending a team to Spain’s Canary Islands, where the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to arrive on Sunday, and US passengers will be evacuated to an airbase in Nebraska. However, experts say the US is unprepared for such a disease threat.

The CDCs limited role in responding to the hantavirus outbreak is raising questions, including whether it now has a diminished role in responding to health scares. Most of the response has been led by the World Health Organization (WHO), of which the US is no longer a member.

The hantavirus outbreak was reported to the WHO on 2 May; a notice issued two days later updated to seven confirmed or suspected cases. Three people had died, one person was critically ill and three others had mild symptoms.

On Wednesday, the CDC said in a statement it was “closely monitoring the situation” and said the state department was leading a “whole-of-government response including direct contact with passengers, diplomatic coordination, and engagement with domestic and international health authorities”. It wasn’t until Thursday that the CDC activated its 24/7 emergency center in Atlanta to monitor the recent hantavirus outbreak and classified it at its lowest activation level.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/09/cdc-hantavirus-who-cruise-ship-outbreak-response

the state department was leading a “whole-of-government response

The brainworm host Secretary of Health and Human Services SHOULD BE the one leading a “"whole-of-government response'", NOT the Secretary of State. This is a HEALTH issue, NOT a diplomatic one.

7 replies

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Highlight:

'Empty and vapid' CDC finally responds to hantavirus outbreak. But experts say it's too little, too late (Original Post) BumRushDaShow May 10 OP

RFK Jr should put that on his business cards. tanyev May 10 #1

I don't think I want RFK Jr leading the response either!! riversedge May 10 #2

He would definitely be the least qualified to do it BumRushDaShow May 10 #3

"Empty and vapid" describes almost everything about what passes for the US government, Ocelot II May 10 #4

You would think after Covid we would have learned a lesson. SamuelAdams May 10 #5

This administration? hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! AZLD4Candidate May 10 #6

But that's not what this government thinks its purpose is. Ocelot II May 10 #7

tanyev

(49,688 posts)

1. RFK Jr should put that on his business cards.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Sun May 10, 2026, 08:10 AM

May 10

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Empty and Vapid

riversedge

(81,552 posts)

2. I don't think I want RFK Jr leading the response either!!

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Sun May 10, 2026, 08:24 AM

May 10

the state department was leading a “whole-of-government response

The brainworm host Secretary of Health and Human Services SHOULD BE the one leading a “"whole-of-government response'", NOT the Secretary of State. This is a HEALTH issue, NOT a diplomatic one.

BumRushDaShow

(172,302 posts)

3. He would definitely be the least qualified to do it

Reply to riversedge (Reply #2)

Sun May 10, 2026, 08:51 AM

May 10

but the Department should be in the lead - and notably the Surgeon General (at least the current nominee, who at least has the background) as the Surgeon General is head of the HHS Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps. That group is part of the nation's "uniformed services" consisting of officers with health backgrounds who deploy around the world, including for the type of stuff happening right now.

A bunch of my coworkers at my office were PHS Commissioned Corps who periodically rotated in and out of my agency.

Ocelot II

(131,242 posts)

4. "Empty and vapid" describes almost everything about what passes for the US government,

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Sun May 10, 2026, 09:14 AM

May 10

at least when it's not being vicious and hostile.

SamuelAdams

(199 posts)

5. You would think after Covid we would have learned a lesson.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Sun May 10, 2026, 09:20 AM

May 10

Electing a president is about more than a couple big bills that might become law. It's about the boring day-to-day running of government to keep us safe from things like diseases. Basic competence should matter to voters more than it seems to.

AZLD4Candidate

(6,964 posts)

6. This administration? hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Reply to SamuelAdams (Reply #5)

Sun May 10, 2026, 09:33 AM

May 10

Ocelot II

(131,242 posts)

7. But that's not what this government thinks its purpose is.

Reply to SamuelAdams (Reply #5)

Sun May 10, 2026, 10:13 AM

May 10

Someone - don't remember who - recently commented that this government is just customer service for the wealthy.

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