What Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the U.S. federal government’s primary health protection agency. CDC’s mission is to protect health and safety by conducting research, implementing evidence-based programs, and monitoring health outcomes through data collection and surveillance—work that supports prevention, detection, and response to health threats inside the United States and globally. CDC operates 24/7 and coordinates with state, tribal, local, and territorial partners and other federal agencies during public health emergencies, including outbreak investigations and public health laboratory and epidemiology support. CDC also publishes scientific and operational guidance and recommendations through major information products such as the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), provides urgent cleared incident communications through the Health Alert Network (HAN), and enables broad access to health data through platforms such as CDC WONDER. CDC’s organizational structure includes an Immediate Office of the Director and multiple centers and institutes (e.g., NCEZID, NCHS, NCHHSTP, NCEH/ATSDR, NIOSH) plus cross-cutting offices for functions such as data, surveillance and technology, readiness and response, and laboratory systems.