Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the United States Public Health Service, with headquarters and main laboratories in Atlanta, Georgia. The CDC conducts research into the origin and occurrence of diseases and develops methods for their control and prevention. It also develops immunization services, together with state and local agencies; provides public health information; and aids in the training of health workers. The CDC conducts international programs as well. It has 12 centers, institutes, and offices, including the National Center for Environmental Health, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and the Epidemiology Program Office.

The agency had its origin in the U.S. antimalaria program of World War II (1939-1945) and was established as the Communicable Disease Center in 1946. It became the Center for Disease Control in 1970, the Centers for Disease Control in 1980, and the words ‘and Prevention’ were added in 1992, though Congress requested that CDC remain the agency’s initials. Among the CDC’s accomplishments are identifying the causes of toxic shock syndrome and of Legionnaires’ disease. Currently, the agency is involved in the battle against acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and arranging educational programs to help prevent future outbreaks. (1)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Refugees

A definition of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the context of refugee resettlement and non-emergency repatriation, may be provided here: The CDC, of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), is responsible for ensuring that immigrants entering the U.S. do not pose a threat to the public health. CDC monitors the overseas medical screening of immigrants, inspects the medical records of immigrants at U.S. ports of entry, and notifies state health departments of each arriving refugee as well as some categories of other immigrants.

Resources

See Also

  • Refugee Resettlement
  • Non-Emergency Repatriation

Resources

Notes and References

  1. Encarta Online Encyclopedia

See Also


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