CDC's acting director says hantavirus is not "a five-alarm fire bell"
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Jay Bhattacharya, acting CDC director, emphasized that the hantavirus outbreak poses a much lower public risk than COVID-19 and should be treated differently due to its less contagious nature.
- The outbreak, linked to the Andes strain on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, has caused at least three deaths and 10 cases, with 18 American passengers now under medical monitoring in the U.S.
- Bhattacharya assured that the CDC is actively tracking the outbreak in coordination with local and international health agencies, aiming to inform the public without causing unnecessary panic.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized past CDC budget cuts under the Trump administration, arguing these cuts hindered outbreak tracking on cruise ships, though Bhattacharya defended the current outbreak management team's effectiveness.
- The CDC is also preparing for potential disease outbreaks during the upcoming World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, with systems in place to respond appropriately if needed.