The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Definition

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta is recognized as the lead United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people by providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. CDC focuses national attention on developing and applying disease prevention and control (especially infectious diseases), environmental health, health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States. The centers, institutes and offices are:

• National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
• 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 Immunization Program
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Epidemiology Program Office
• Public Health Practice Program Office
• Office of the Director

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the CDC is an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. It used to be the Communicable Disease Center until 1946, then the Center for Disease Control until 1970.

CDC also publish the peer-reviewed journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The current director of the CDC is Dr. Julie Gerberding.

External link

• Official site (http://www.cdc.gov)