March 17, 2020 | By Jaymi Firestone

With COVID-19 running rampant around the world, and finally arriving in the United States, our Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been busy trying to contain the contagious virus, in order to keep as many Americans healthy as possible. The climate of our country has changed over the last couple weeks and it got me wondering, who even started the CDC and why?

That drug me down a path of researching the story behind this incredibly important organization. Who opened the doors? Why did they open them?

If you ask someone who was around in 1946 what comes to mind when you mention the CDC, you’ll probably hear about mosquitoes and malaria. That is because CDC Founder, Dr. Joseph Mountin opened the Communicable Disease Center (CDC) in July of that year to combat the spread of malaria. “Armed with a budget of only $10 million and fewer than 400 employees, the agency’s early challenges included obtaining enough trucks, sprayers, and shovels necessary to wage war on mosquitoes,” (cdc.gov). The organization was founded just shy of 75 years ago, and has combated many threatening diseases since opening its original small, one-story laboratory in Atlanta. During the first year of operations, 59% of the CDC’s personnel were engaged in the eradication efforts.

It was also in 1946 when the CDC made a insignificant $10 payment to Emory University for the purchase of 15 acres of land that now serves as the CDC Headquarters. “Although medical epidemiologists were scarce in those early years, disease surveillance became the cornerstone of CDC’s mission of service to the states and over time changed the practice of public health,” (cdc.gov). Among its 369 employees, the key jobs at CDC originally were entomologists and engineers. In 1946, the agency had only seven medical officers on duty.

After the complete eradication of malaria in 1948, Dr. Moutin pushed the CDC to begin extending its responsibilities beyond malaria to other communicable diseases, all while advocating for public health issues. Its said that Dr. Mountin was a “visionary public health leader with high hopes for this small and, at that time, relatively insignificant branch of the Public Health Service.” (cdc.gov).

Malaria was the catalyst for the agency’s creation. Now the scene was set for CDC to expand its mission, and reach. There have been many significant accomplishments of the CDC since its humble beginnings. In fact, today, the “CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services and is recognized as the nation’s premiere health promotion, prevention, and preparedness agency,” (cdc.gov).

The CDC has studied, and even eradicated, many different diseases in the United States, such as small pox, viral encephalitis, rabies, polio, staphylococcus, rubella and tuberculosis, among others. In fact, many don’t know that the CDC also has a division that handles venereal diseases, also known as Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Over the years, the name of the CDC was changed to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to reflect a more complex mission. Regardless of the name change though, the CDC still maintains its commitment to working 24/7 to save lives and protect people.

What has changed is the growth and focus. As the world leader in communicable disease, the CDC has broadened its focus “to include chronic diseases, disabilities, injury prevention and control, workplace non-communicable public health issues,” (cdc.gov). The CDC once focused on malaria, but now faces many different diseases every day, like the current growing threat of COVID-19.

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the nation’s premier health promotion, disease prevention and emergency preparedness agency. It is a global leader in public health. CDC is still headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia where it originally started, but now has branch locations all across the United States, staffed with intelligent employees who are prepared to tackle issues we may not even realize are a threat. “Nearly 40% of employees have a master’s degree, 25% have a PhD, and 10 percent have medical degrees. Around 12% are veterans and the average age of a CDC worker is 47,” (cdc.gov).

“In 70 years, CDC has grown in size and stature, in scope and science, in reputation and reach. While much has changed since 1946, the heart of CDC is still its people: dedicated and diligent, persevering and professional, making a difference in lives around the world… a legacy to celebrate, on its anniversaries and beyond,” (cdc.gov).

Because of their mission to continue providing aid in times like we are facing now, their employees are working hard to stop the continual spread of COVID-19, so that our nation remains healthy despite the few growing cases. If you would like more information about COVID-19, or Coronavirus, please visit the CDC’s website by clicking HERE.

 

 

Resources:

https://www.cdc.gov/museum/history/celebrating-7decades.html

https://www.cdc.gov