Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a national health institute under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It protects public health and safety through control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability. COVID-19 has now brought the agency into sharp relief and we describe its main roles here.
Primary Roles of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC focuses particularly on infectious diseases, food-borne pathogens, environmental health, occupational safety and health, and health promotion. However, it also keeps a watchful eye over non-infectious diseases, such as obesity and diabetes.
COVID-19 has taught us how important it is to have a central health watchdog in the form of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s because they sprang into action when China alerted us to their coronavirus outbreak. And they have been instrumental in keeping us informed ever since.
Pandemics Including COVID-19 Cross Borders and Affect All
North America is fortunate to have among the most-developed health care systems in the world. However, we are at constant risk of diseases arriving from elsewhere, where facilities are less developed. The CDC knows this, and it maintains a presence in these countries to observe health trends. It also collaborates with providers in those nations.
CDC emerged as the civilian version of the World War II Malaria Control in War Areas program on July 1, 1946. Since then, it has played a major role in containing infectious diseases, including COVID-19. It is also in the forefront of other communicable diseases too numerous to mention.
CDC made mistakes during the COVID-19 rollout, particularly with regard to testing. However it has played, and continues to play an irreplaceable role in our public health. While the citizens it serves go about their daily business, assuming someone is out there protecting them from infection.
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Preview Image: CDC International Interventions
