Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Public Health Agency

¶ … Disease Control and Prevention

CDC, in basic terms, "is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services" (CDC, 2014). The agency's mission, as it points out on its website is to serve "as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, health promotion and health education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States" (CDC, 2014).

The History of Public Health in Relation to CDC

CDC is organized as a center for communicable diseases, cementing its role in the fight against a variety of health issues facing the country. The agency is recognized as a U.S. Public Health Service branch.

The agency assumes all the responsibilities of the Public Health Service Plague Laboratory in San Francisco.

CDC is ushered into the global public health scene for its role in the Enterobacteriaceae taxonomy. One year after this feat, CDC is recognized yet again for its contribution towards the decline of malaria cases, and hence, the subsequent declaration that malaria is no longer a significant health problem in the United States.

The threat of biological warfare, one year after the commencement of the Korean War (1950-1953), leads to the establishments of the Epidemic Intelligence Service. The mandate of the service is to offer protection against manmade epidemics and biological warfare.

The relevance of CDC, as far as the nation's public health is concerned, is further reinforced -- thanks to two major health crises; the influenza epidemic and the appearance of poliomyelitis in infants due to the receipt of contaminated Salk vaccines. In the latter case, CDC was instrumental in not only the identification but also the correction of the problem. With regard to the influenza epidemic, CDC came up with well-developed guidelines for a vaccine.

1958 -- 1969

CDC is, for the first time, involved in overseas missions when a team is dispatched to South East Asia to help combat a smallpox and cholera epidemic.

CDC takes over the Tuberculosis Program -- which was formerly under the Public Health Service. It is also during this period that Foreign Quarantine Service (a Public Health Service) joins CDC.

CDC is recognized for its role in the eradication of smallpox, which had remained a major public health concern. Also, the classification of cigarette smoking as a health hazard is set in motion by CDC after it links lung cancer to cigarette smoking.

1970 -- 1981

CDC spearheads efforts to increase the number of Americans seeking immunizations.

The first case of tuberculosis resistance to drugs that were formerly effective is reported in Alcorn County Mississippi.

AIDS is for the very first time described in an MMWR issue

1982 -- 1993

A Violence Epidemiology Branch is established with an aim of applying public health prevention approaches to suicide, homicide, as well as child abuse.

Office on Smoking and Health is absorbed by CDC.

The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion is established by CDC.

1994 -- 2005

HIV testing (mandatory) to pregnant women is recommended by CDC.

CDC established the Laboratory Response Service

CDC identifies and starts investigating cases of anthrax after various recipients of mail are infected. This event restates the need for strategies aimed at countering biological attacks.

CDC reports a decrease in instances of newborns born with HIV

2006 -- Date

CDC celebrates its 60th year of disease prevention and control.

The need to improve food safety is restated following the foodborne outbreaks in a number of states.

The H1N1 influenza virus is identified by CDC, demonstrating the ability of the agency to not only assess, but also explain risk.

CDC plays a critical role towards the prevention of cholera following the Haiti earthquake; in the end preventing 7,000 deaths.

The Emergency Operations Center is activated in efforts aimed at Polio eradication

CDC responds to the outbreak of Fungal Meningitis, which is billed the largest outbreak (healthcare-related) of its kind in U.S. history.

(Source: CDC, 2014)

Public Health vs. Community Health