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At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these three
words say it all. Whether our safety is threatened by environmental hazards,
injuries at home or at work, or a myriad of other dangers, CDC scientists
are on the hunt for both hazards and potential interventions. Likewise, our
health can be jeopardized by old foes like tuberculosis or influenza, as
well as newer ones like drug-resistant microbes, poor diets, or tobacco use.
Again, CDC's scientists work here and abroad to track health threats and
identify the many ways we can be healthier—as individuals and as
communities. Finally, whether promoting health or safety, here or abroad,
CDC's work is about serving and protecting people.
When CDC was formed in 1946, the acronym stood for "Communicable Disease
Center." Today, the acronym remains the same, but the agency and its
partners tackle much more than communicable disease. Chronic disease, global
health, bioterrorism, injury, disability, occupational health, and
environmental health are all areas where CDC contributes to scientific
knowledge and its application. CDC's sister agency, the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), examines the specific health
effects of hazardous waste sites and unplanned releases of toxins.
In spite of this wide range of topics and disciplines, common
threads—particularly a commitment to accurate data, sound science, and
prevention—are the foundation of CDC's and ATSDR's activities and programs.
Grouped in 16 categories, the 2004 Programs in Brief descriptions
provided here help to illustrate the scope of CDC's and ATSDR's activities,
as well as their shared goals of safer, healthier people here and around the
world. Each description includes a statement of the public health issue or
problem, describes CDC's or ATSDR's activities and accomplishments, and
identifies steps for moving forward.
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