Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the leading national public health institute of the United States. Its primary mission is to protect public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability. Recently, the CDC has been in the news due to concerns raised by former officials about global pandemic preparedness. Tom Frieden, the former head of the CDC, stated that the world is not well-prepared for the next pandemic, citing the ongoing response to the Ebola outbreak and reductions in US public health funding as indicators of this lack of readiness. While the current Ebola outbreak is not considered a pandemic risk to large populations, it highlights potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, the CDC is involved in tracking and responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as the recent report of two deaths in Michigan linked to a cyclospora parasite outbreak. These events underscore the CDC's critical role in monitoring disease trends, providing guidance, and coordinating responses to protect the health of the nation and the world.