Category: infectious disease

Fulfilling the Decade of Vaccines Vision

As 2014 draws to a close, one theme that has been continuously present is the importance of a strong public health infrastructure in a country to effectively protect against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).  Universal access to immunization is the Decade of Vaccines vision, and in order to achieve this, more efforts are needed to build upon the Read More >

Posted on by Rebecca Martin, PhD, Director, Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, U.S. CDCTags , ,

A Day in Liberia — John Logan Town

On the trip back from John Logan Town, we were stopped for nearly two hours while a new bridge was built. I was observing the construction since this was really a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I am not a morning person. In a typical week, it takes a long shower and a cup or two of coffee before I hit my stride. This was not the case for me on October 30th. I sprung out of bed at 5:00am and was ready to start the day’s mission. We were heading Read More >

Posted on by Justin Williams, Health Communications Specialist, Division of Global Health Protection4 CommentsTags , , , ,

Tom Frieden: What I’m Thankful For

CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden

  This blog was originally posted on Time.com on November 20, 2014   This Thanksgiving Day, 170 CDC disease detectives, public health experts, and communication specialists will not be home celebrating with loved ones. They’ll be in West Africa, working to contain the Ebola epidemic. Some of them are deep in remote areas, far from the Read More >

Posted on by CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden4 CommentsTags

Preparedness Workshops Help At-Risk Countries Prepare for Ebola

Figure 1: Real time contact tracing system used in Nigeria to track Ebola resposne (September 9, 2014)

  A recent news story in Bloomberg Businessweek proclaims “How to Avert an Ebola Nightmare: Lessons from Nigeria’s Victory.” The article outlines the remarkable achievement of Nigeria’s Ministry of Health with partners, including CDC, to contain the spread of Ebola in that country. Now declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria stands as a Read More >

Posted on by Frederick J. Angulo, DVM, PhD2 CommentsTags , ,

Get to know a STOPper

  In honor of World Polio Day, the polio communications team sat down with the lead of the CDC Global Immunization Division’s STOP team Yinka Kerr for a little Q & A. Q: Yinka, how did you become involved in the global initiative to end polio? Yinka: I started in polio in 1997 when I Read More >

Posted on by Yinka Kerr, MSPH, STOP Team Lead, Global Immunization Division4 CommentsTags , ,

CDC Director: Why I don’t support a travel ban to combat Ebola outbreak

  This blog was originally posted on Fox News on October 9, 2014.   The first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States has caused some to call on the United States to ban travel for anyone from the countries in West Africa facing the worst of the Ebola epidemic. That response is understandable. Read More >

Posted on by Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of CDC20 CommentsTags , , ,

Ebola Requires the World’s United Action

White House

This blog is cross-posted on the White House website. The nations of the world, along with key international organizations, gather at the White House today to advance a Global Health Security Agenda that will help keep the world safe from infectious disease threats. This meeting is a critical opportunity to increase international commitment and, more Read More >

Posted on by Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of CDC1 CommentTags , , , ,

What is Rabies?

3 dogs

                              Most people in the United States know rabies as a rare and terrifying disease, ending in almost certain death. However, it’s not usually something they think about, except when the reminder card arrives from their veterinarian that their pet needs Read More >

Posted on by Ryan M. Wallace, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention2 CommentsTags , , , , , ,

What it’s REALLY like fighting Ebola in Liberia

A Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) staff member ties the face mask of Dr. Jordan Tappero, CDC, before Dr. Tappero enters the Ebola treatment unit (ETU), ELWA 3. MSF operates the ELWA 3 ETU, which opened on August 17.

  This blog was originally posted on the ONE.org on September 11, 2014.   During my time in Liberia, I have tried not to provide much detail to my family about the day-to-day work we are doing. I don’t want to cause alarm or propagate fear; conditions in Monrovia can at times be deeply troubling. Read More >

Posted on by Jordan W. Tappero, MD, MPH4 CommentsTags , , ,

The High Stakes in Fighting Ebola: Leave One Burning Ember and the Epidemic Could Re-Ignite

A banner encouraging people suffering from Ebola to go immediately to a health center for treatment is seen on a sidewalk in the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. While the Ebola virus outbreak has now reached four countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone account for more than 60 percent of the deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The outbreak that emerged in March has claimed at least 932 lives. (AP Photo/Michael Duff)

  This blog was originally posted on the Huffington Post on August 7, 2014.   CDC and our partners are currently fighting the biggest and most complex outbreak of Ebola virus disease ever recorded. There are hundreds of cases in West Africa and now a new cluster of cases in Nigeria is very concerning. The Read More >

Posted on by Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of CDC3 CommentsTags , ,