CDC Shuts Down Premier STD Lab, Leaving Experts Aghast

The US government has shuttered the CDC's leading sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) laboratory, firing all 28 employees. This leaves experts concerned about the lack of monitoring for drug-resistant STDs, especially gonorrhea, where antimicrobial resistance is rising. The lab played a crucial role in global surveillance and treatment recommendations, and its closure is seen as a significant blow to public health efforts, particularly as new gonorrhea drugs are nearing completion. The lack of transparency surrounding the decision has further fueled concerns.