Program Changes - The CDC is reducing its monitoring of certain foodborne illnesses, specifically cutting back on actively looking for pathogens like Listeria, Shigella, and Vibrio [1] - The Food Net program, a partnership between the federal government and 10 state health departments since 1995, is scaling back from tracking around eight pathogens to only two [3] - Salmonella and E coli will continue to be actively monitored by the program [3] Impact of Changes - The reduction in monitoring could make it more difficult to respond to outbreaks and detect rising trends in foodborne illnesses [1] - Without active monitoring, the US may miss cases and lack a full understanding of who is getting sick and under what circumstances [8] - Some of the pathogens no longer monitored can be life-threatening, especially for newborns, pregnant people, and immunocompromised individuals; Vibrio has a fatality rate of approximately 20% [5] Reasons for Changes - Budget cuts, including a stagnant federal budget for the CDC and cuts to state health department budgets, are the reason for the changes [7] - The CDC claims that narrowing the focus will allow it to prioritize its core focus while maintaining infrastructure and quality [6]