Official leading CDC’s cruise ship program retires

Exclusive Official leading CDC’s cruise ship program retires Hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius has focused public attention on cruise ship safety Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Daniel PayneMay 7, 2026 Washington Correspondent Daniel Payne[email protected]Daniel Payne reports on how the health industry and Washington influence and impact each other. He joined STAT in 2025 after covering health care at POLITICO. You can reach Daniel on Signal at danielp.100. WASHINGTON — The top U.S. official responsible for public health on cruise ships is stepping down, according to an internal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcement obtained by STAT. The retirement of Luis Rodríguez, who has been part of the Vessel Sanitation Program since 2010 and served as its chief since 2023, was announced internally at the CDC on Wednesday.Advertisement His departure comes amid a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that has experts worried and that has captured the public’s attention. It also comes after a turbulent year for the division — and the federal government’s public health work broadly. In April 2025, the full-time employees in the program were laid off, according to reporting at the time. Administration officials argued the program, largely staffed by people not subject to the widespread Department of Health and Human Services layoffs, would remain functional. The administration later reversed the cuts to the cruise ship program, an HHS official confirmed Thursday. They did not respond to questions about who will replace Rodríguez.Advertisement The CDC on Wednesday said in a statement it was “closely monitoring the situation,” noting the State Department was coordinating a whole-of-government response for the U.S. passengers onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The public health risk to Americans is currently “extremely low,” according to the statement. HHS officials previously declined a request from STAT to interview a CDC expert about the outbreak. The State Department declined to answer questions about the number of Americans onboard the ship or any plan to monitor those potentially exposed to the virus. The cruise ship operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, has said there are 17 Americans currently onboard the Hondius. Some American passengers disembarked when the cruise ship stopped at St. Helena, before it was recognized that an outbreak was underway. Helen Branswell contributed reporting. CDC, HHS, infectious diseases, Policy, public health Submit a correction requestReprints Daniel Payne Washington Correspondent Daniel Payne reports on how the health industry and Washington influence and impact each other. He joined STAT in 2025 after covering health care at POLITICO. You can reach Daniel on Signal at danielp.100. Newsletter The latest updates in federal health agencies, research institutes, and U.S. policy Recommended Biotech May 7, 2026 STAT Plus: FDA to reconsider treatment for rare cancer after its surprise rejection Exclusive May 6, 2026 STAT Plus: Sanofi asks to pull diabetes drug out of FDA voucher program after political appointee interfered with review Advertisement Health April 30, 2026 Trump drops Casey Means as surgeon general nominee, opts for radiologist Nicole Saphier Business April 30, 2026 STAT Plus: Cigna will exit ACA individual markets next year, adding to tumult for patients Biotech April 28, 2026 STAT Plus: FDA launches effort to speed up clinical trials, using AI Subscriber Picks