Center for disease control and prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Formation	July  1, 1946 (1946-07-01)
Type	Government agency
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Website	www.cdc.gov

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a national public health institute in the United States. It is a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The CDC's primary mission is to protect public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability in the U.S. and internationally.

History

The CDC was founded in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center, with a focus on fighting malaria by killing mosquitoes. Over the years, its scope expanded to include all communicable diseases, and it was renamed the Centers for Disease Control in 1970. In 1992, "Prevention" was added to its name to reflect its broader mission.

Mission and Functions

The CDC's mission is to protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and domestic. The agency focuses on:

• Detecting and responding to new and emerging health threats
• Tackling the biggest health problems causing death and disability for Americans
• Putting science and advanced technology into action to prevent disease
• Promoting healthy and safe behaviors, communities, and environments
• Developing leaders and training the public health workforce, including disease detectives

Organizational Structure

The CDC is organized into several centers, institutes, and offices, each focusing on different aspects of public health. Some of the key components include:

• National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
• National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
• National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
• Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response

Key Programs and Initiatives

The CDC conducts a wide range of programs and initiatives, including:

• Vaccination programs to prevent infectious diseases
• Epidemiology and surveillance to monitor health trends
• Health education campaigns to promote healthy lifestyles
• Emergency preparedness and response to natural and man-made disasters

Global Health

The CDC works globally to prevent and control infectious diseases, respond to health emergencies, and build public health capacity in other countries. It collaborates with international organizations such as the World Health Organization and provides technical assistance to countries around the world.

Also see

• World Health Organization
• National Institutes of Health
• Public health
• Epidemiology