Category: prevention

Fred the Preparedness Dog—Tails from Kansas

Fred witnesses the governor of Kansas signing a proclamation naming September "National Preparedness Month"

It all started when Fred jumped into the bathtub. It was one of those warm, Kansas summer days, back in 2013. Fred the German Shepherd had just joined our family, and my wife eagerly captured all his adorable dog-moments with her camera. So when Fred hopped into the tub, she quickly snapped a photo and Read More >

Posted on by Michael McNulty, Director of Homeland Security Operations, Kansas Department of Health and Environment1 CommentTags , , , , , ,

Small Changes, Big Dividends: A Global Look at Preparedness

Soumbedioune fish market in Dakar, Senegal

There’s a big difference between seeing something in a picture and experiencing it in 360-degree reality, saturated with sounds and smells. In the summer of 1987, I traveled to Senegal for three weeks. This was the first time I had really traveled and seen firsthand what the rest of the world was like. In Dakar, Read More >

Posted on by Dr. Stephen Redd, Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response2 CommentsTags , , , ,

One Humanity: Supporting Mothers and Infants in the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Train tracks into WRTC

The scale of the Syrian crisis is nearly beyond comprehension: 4.8 million refugees, 8.7 million people displaced inside Syria’s borders. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Across the world, CDC has people on the ground working to protect the health of those affected by the crisis – people like Leisel Talley, whose mission Read More >

Posted on by Adrienne Lefevre, Emergency Response and Recovery Branch1 CommentTags , , , , , , , ,

Mosquito Control Awareness Week: Say Goodbye to Mosquitoes at Home

FemaleAedes aegypti mosquito in the process of acquiring a blood meal from her human host.

This week is Mosquito Control Awareness Week! Now that it’s mosquito season, it is the perfect time to look in and around your home for ways to control mosquitoes that can carry viruses like Zika and West Nile. Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator8 CommentsTags , , ,

Danger in the Water: When Algae Becomes Toxic

Harmful algal blooms

Ever wondered what’s causing the water in your favorite lake to turn red?  Or were the family photos from your river rafting trip spoiled by brown water in the background? You may be looking at an algal bloom. Summer is upon us and warm weather is the perfect environment for these algal blooms, which can Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator10 CommentsTags , , , , , ,

Protecting the Air We Breathe: A deeper look at Legionnaires’ disease

Medical illustration of Legionella pneumophila

CDC scientists discovered Legionnaires’ disease in 1976, during one of the largest respiratory disease investigations in U.S. history. CDC’s disease detectives were called upon when people became sick with pneumonia, a serious lung infection, while attending an American Legion convention at a hotel in Philadelphia. Findings from the investigation suggested that a germ was being Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator6 CommentsTags , , , , ,