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CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
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01934.txt
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1994-01-17
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$Unique_ID{BRK01934}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{What is the CDC?}
$Subject{CDC diseases Centers Disease Control FDA Food Drug Administration
Public Health Service Department Human Services HHS agency agencies drug drugs
medication medications medical device devices control controlling investigate
investigator investigators cause causes epidemic epidemics outbreak outbreaks
Legionnaires virus viruses influenza vaccine vaccines vaccination vaccinations
Office Malaria War Areas World II Communicable AIDS acquired immune deficiency
syndrome HIV human immunodeficiency alcohol abuse injury injuries hazard
hazards environment environmental occupation occupational Morbidity Mortality
Weekly Report government governmental governments}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (c) 1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
What is the CDC?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION: I read everything I can find about health and health issues. I
frequently see the name CDC used in articles that talk about diseases, and
know that this represents some government agency that controls health
regulations. Does this make it part of the FDA? I would appreciate any
information you might be able to provide me about the CDC.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: While the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the FDA (Food and
Drug Administration) often work together solving the health problems of the
United States, the CDC is not a part of the FDA. Both the FDA and CDC are
part of the Public Health Service, a division of the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS), but are independent and separate agencies. While the
FDA is responsible for controlling drugs, medications and medical devices, the
CDC provides investigators to delve into the causes of epidemics, or the
outbreaks of new diseases. It was the CDC that discovered the cause of
Legionnaires disease, and its scientists track the path of the viruses that
cause influenza. Their work makes it possible to predict the strains of the
virus most likely to appear in the yearly flu season in time to allow drug
companies to prepare the proper vaccines. The CDC started as the Public
Health Service's Office of Malaria Control in War Areas during World War II,
was then called the Communicable Disease Center (1946) and essentially became
the CDC we know today in 1970. It now provides many educational and
prevention programs, particularly in the areas of AIDS, drug and alcohol
abuse, accidental injuries, and occupational and environmental health hazards.
The results of its investigations are published in a journal known as the
"Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report", must reading for health officials,
investigative scientists, and health and science reporters as well.
----------------
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.