Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Definition/Scope: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, primary mission is to collaborate to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats. CDC′s Vision for the 21st Century is "Health Protection…Health Equity". The CDC descended from the wartime agency Malaria Control in War Areas (MCWA), the CDC initially focused on fighting malaria by killing mosquitoes. Among its fewer than 400 original employees, the key jobs at CDC were those of entomologists and engineers. In fact, CDC had only seven medical officers on staff in 1946. CDC is globally recognized for conducting research and investigations and for its action-oriented approach. CDC applies research and findings to improve people's daily lives and responds to health emergencies—something that distinguishes CDC from its peer agencies. CDC works with states and other partners to provide a system of health surveillance to monitor and prevent disease outbreaks (including bioterrorism), implement disease prevention strategies, and maintain national health statistics. CDC also guards against international disease transmission, with personnel stationed in more than 25 foreign countries.

Used For:

Centers for Disease Control
Protection WFF

Acronym:

CDC

Broader Terms:

Department of Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services

Narrower Terms:

Epidemiology Program Office
International Health Program Office
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
National Center for Environmental Health
National Center for Health Statistics
National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention
National Center for Infectious Diseases
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
National Immunization Program
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Public Health Practice Program Office

Related Terms:

AMEDD
Georgia (US)
public health