The CDC was originally established in 1942 as MCWA, Malaria Control in War Areas. At this point, its primary purpose was the prevent the outbreak of malaria in military training bases. The MCWA would go through several name changes, such as the Communicable Disease Center, which focused on other infectious diseases that ravaged military bases, and the National Communicable Disease Center before settling on its current iteration.
The CDC now focuses on even more than just infectious diseases and their outbreaks. The CDC also focuses on national health surveillance, to analyze larger trends in public health to more effectively improve public health efforts and respond to various policy challenges.
https://www.cdc.gov/ophss/docs/cdc-surveillance-strategy-final.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/about/history/ourstory.htm
Really interesting post! I think it's especially interesting how the CDC interacts with new health policy and how differing health trends and outbreaks continue to policymaker's decision to create policy. How do you think the CDC has contributed to policies like Obamacare?
ReplyDeleteI'm not totally sure the CDC has contributed to Obamacare, because the CDC is largely apolitical. However, the CDC has done lots of great research on vaccines for different infectious diseases and epidemics. Do you think funding for the CDC will change with the current presidency?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It's interesting how the CDC controls and creates policies in regards for the nation's health – they have to deal with health outbreaks and find solutions to better the United States.
ReplyDeleteNice post! I like how you included the history of the CDC and how it has become how we know it today. It is vital to know what infrastructure is in place to maintain the public health.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post! I was not aware that the CDC started as an organization to prevent the spread of malaria. I wonder how the program developed into what it is today in terms of funding and influence.
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