MISSION: CRITICAL - 2014 Year in Review
During 2014, CDC responded to the worst Ebola outbreak in history. Here, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden visits West Africa to assess response needs.
Missions
CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and domestic. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, natural or through deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same. It’s a critical job, and this year showed why, more than ever, CDC is critical to the health of Americans.
Tom Frieden, MD, MPH
"There is no doubt Ebola will rank as the biggest public health story of 2014, but fighting Ebola is only one of the things CDC has done this year to protect the health of Americans."
Tom Frieden, MD, MPH - Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mission: New Infectious Disease Threats
Ebola
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa is among the most complex challenges ever to confront CDC.
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is unprecedented in size and scope. Supported by highest-level
activation of the Emergency Operations Centers, CDC staff surged into the region, setting up labs
and emergency operations center, training contact-tracing and burial teams, providing leadership
and communications support. The sudden appearance of an Ebola patient at a Dallas hospital – and
the first-ever Ebola transmissions on U.S. soil – woke Americans to the truth of CDC’s
oft-repeated mantra: a health threat anywhere is a health threat everywhere.
To protect Americans, CDC has helped affected nations perform exit screenings of hundreds of
thousands of airline travelers and has helped establish entry screening for all people traveling
from these countries to the U.S. By December, CDC had supported state health departments to
make more than 30,000 contacts with these returning travelers to check for fever and other
symptoms. Based on CDC guidance, states are now working to prepare hospitals to receive,
isolate, and evaluate suspected Ebola cases. CDC Rapid Ebola Preparedness (REP) teams spread
out across the nation to prepare hospitals for a possible Ebola threat while CDC Ebola Response
Teams (CERT) stand ready to deploy to any hospital in the U.S. with probable Ebola cases.
thousands of airline travelers and has helped establish entry screening for all people traveling
from these countries to the U.S. By December, CDC had supported state health departments to
make more than 30,000 contacts with these returning travelers to check for fever and other
symptoms. Based on CDC guidance, states are now working to prepare hospitals to receive,
isolate, and evaluate suspected Ebola cases. CDC Rapid Ebola Preparedness (REP) teams spread
out across the nation to prepare hospitals for a possible Ebola threat while CDC Ebola Response
Teams (CERT) stand ready to deploy to any hospital in the U.S. with probable Ebola cases.
"Americans will be 100 percent safe only when we succeed in stopping Ebola at its source in
West Africa."
West Africa."
Tom Frieden, MD, MPH - Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Antibiotic Resistance
CDC has made important progress against antibiotic resistance, but it remains a serious threat. Combating antibiotic resistance and preventing healthcare-associated infections remains a critical initiative for 2015.
Every day, patients get infections in healthcare facilities while they are being treated for
something else. These infections can be deadly, especially when they are resistant to antibiotics.
While some progress was made in 2014 reducing common antibiotic resistant threats, thousands
of patients in the United States continue to die from these infections. As a result of this ongoing
threat the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order and the National Strategy to Combat
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. CDC has requested $30 million for
CDC's Detect and Protect Initiative and $14 million for the
National Healthcare Safety Network to combat resistant bacteria. These important initiatives are
a down payment on the public health aspects defined in the national strategy.
An effort around the country to improve infection control to prevent spread of Ebola is an
opportunity to protect patients from healthcare-associated infections, including antibiotic
resistant infections. Fighting antibiotic resistance is both a public health and national health
security priority. Improving antibiotic prescribing can save today’s patients from deadly
infections and protect lifesaving antibiotics tomorrow. We must be diligent stewards of
antibiotics, protecting this precious resource in doctor’s offices, homes, and farms, so it is
available to help us, and our children, in the future.
opportunity to protect patients from healthcare-associated infections, including antibiotic
resistant infections. Fighting antibiotic resistance is both a public health and national health
security priority. Improving antibiotic prescribing can save today’s patients from deadly
infections and protect lifesaving antibiotics tomorrow. We must be diligent stewards of
antibiotics, protecting this precious resource in doctor’s offices, homes, and farms, so it is
available to help us, and our children, in the future.
Beth Bell, MD MPH
"Every day we don’t act to better protect antibiotics will make it harder and more expensive
to address drug resistance in the future. Drug resistance can undermine both our ability to
fight infectious diseases and much of modern medicine."
to address drug resistance in the future. Drug resistance can undermine both our ability to
fight infectious diseases and much of modern medicine."
Beth Bell, MD MPH - Director, CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infection
- Get Smart About Antibiotics Week
- Executive Order – Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
- A National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
- PCAST Report – Combating Antibiotic Resistance
- CDC Director Blog
- Digital Press Kit: White House Announces National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
- CDC's Drug Resistance Website
- Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States, 2013
- Detect and Protect Against Antibiotic Resistance Initiative
Domestic Response and EV D68
A disease threat mostly affecting American children, CDC and states have been investigating the 2014 surge in cases of this rarely reported type of enterovirus
Since late summer, CDC and states has been investigating a nationwide outbreak of severe
respiratory illness in children caused by enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), affecting those with asthma
most severely. In October 2014, CDC developed and started using a new, faster lab test for
detecting EV-D68 in specimens from people in the United States with respiratory illness,
allowing the ability to test and report results for new specimens within a few days of receiving
them. From August to November, CDC received more than 2,600 specimens for enterovirus
lab testing—more than six times the amount normally received in an entire year. CDC also
sequenced the complete virus genomes from viruses representing the three known strains of
EV-D68 that caused infection during 2014. About 40% of specimens tested by CDC and state
public health labs—more than 1,100 cases—were positive for EV-D68. By the end of fall,
reporting of EV-D68 infections to CDC began to decline. CDC continues to work closely
with state and local health departments and clinical and state laboratories to monitor and
assess the situation. For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/.
Anne Schuchat, MD
"When rare or uncommon viruses suddenly begin causing severe illness, CDC works quickly
to develop diagnostic tests to enhance our response and investigations."
to develop diagnostic tests to enhance our response and investigations."
Anne Schuchat, MD - Assistant Surgeon General and Director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
MERS-Cov
New Global Outbreak Highlights the Need for Vigilance
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a new viral respiratory illness that was first
reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, showed a dramatic increase in cases during 2014. Centered
in the Arabian Peninsula, cases have also appeared in other countries due to global travel. In
May 2014, the US saw its first two confirmed cases, both imported by healthcare providers
who acquired infection while working in Saudi Arabia. In response, CDC has improved
lab-testing capacity for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)—the
virus that causes MERS, developed guidance for health departments to conduct investigations
on suspected cases, and provided guidance for reporting and monitoring ill travelers. CDC also
used Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) to sequence the complete virus genome on
specimens from the two US MERS cases, and sent disease detectives to the regions affected
by MERS-CoV to assist the local investigation. CDC continues to closely monitor the
MERS-CoV situation globally and work with partners to better understand the risks of this
virus, including the source, how it spreads, and how infections might be prevented. For more
information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/.
reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, showed a dramatic increase in cases during 2014. Centered
in the Arabian Peninsula, cases have also appeared in other countries due to global travel. In
May 2014, the US saw its first two confirmed cases, both imported by healthcare providers
who acquired infection while working in Saudi Arabia. In response, CDC has improved
lab-testing capacity for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)—the
virus that causes MERS, developed guidance for health departments to conduct investigations
on suspected cases, and provided guidance for reporting and monitoring ill travelers. CDC also
used Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) to sequence the complete virus genome on
specimens from the two US MERS cases, and sent disease detectives to the regions affected
by MERS-CoV to assist the local investigation. CDC continues to closely monitor the
MERS-CoV situation globally and work with partners to better understand the risks of this
virus, including the source, how it spreads, and how infections might be prevented. For more
information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/.
"In this interconnected world we live in, we expected MERS-CoV to make its way to the
United States. We have been preparing since 2012 for this possibility."
United States. We have been preparing since 2012 for this possibility."
Tom Frieden, MD, MPH - Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mission: Continued Fight Against Infectious Diseases
CDC Supports PEPFAR
The HIV/AIDS Pandemic continues to be one of the world’s most important public health challenges
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) provides support to more than
60 countries to build capacity for their national HIV/AIDS programs, and CDC is a primary
partner in this plan. Through PEPFAR, CDC has helped support life-saving antiretroviral
treatment for 7.7 million people and supported HIV testing and counseling for more than 56.7
million people during fiscal year 2014. CDC will continue to work through PEPFAR to control
the HIV epidemic and move closer to an AIDS-free generation. For more information,
visitwww.cdc.gov/globalaids.
"The heart of what CDC brings to the fight is our ability to share our science and innovation
to build capacity across the globe. We are beginning to turn the tide on the HIV pandemic,
and saving millions of lives in doing so."
to build capacity across the globe. We are beginning to turn the tide on the HIV pandemic,
and saving millions of lives in doing so."
Tom Frieden, MD, MPH - Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Polio Eradication
The world is on the brink of eradicating polio, but we risk losing valuable ground
Since the launch of global polio eradication efforts in 1988, polio cases worldwide have
decreased 99 percent, but the remaining 1 percent poses an enormous future risk. A resurgence
of polio could paralyze more than 200,000 children worldwide every year within a decade. There
were important milestones in this mission achieved during 2014: India and the other 10 countries
of the South East Asia Region were certified polio-free. This year the CDC worked with Nigeria
to improve immunization activities, develop outreach programs to underserved populations, and
improve outbreak response and disease tracking in support of polio eradication. This vital
infrastructure also played a critical role in the country’s response to their first Ebola case. The
CDC will continue their efforts to eradicate polio globally, an achievement that once realized
will rank among the greatest public health victories in history. For more information,
visithttp://www.cdc.gov/media/DPK/2014/dpk-polio.html.
decreased 99 percent, but the remaining 1 percent poses an enormous future risk. A resurgence
of polio could paralyze more than 200,000 children worldwide every year within a decade. There
were important milestones in this mission achieved during 2014: India and the other 10 countries
of the South East Asia Region were certified polio-free. This year the CDC worked with Nigeria
to improve immunization activities, develop outreach programs to underserved populations, and
improve outbreak response and disease tracking in support of polio eradication. This vital
infrastructure also played a critical role in the country’s response to their first Ebola case. The
CDC will continue their efforts to eradicate polio globally, an achievement that once realized
will rank among the greatest public health victories in history. For more information,
visithttp://www.cdc.gov/media/DPK/2014/dpk-polio.html.
Gregory Armstrong, MD
"If we eradicate polio in the next few years, we’ll not only eliminate a crippling disease for
generations to come, but have an estimated global savings of 40-50 billion US dollars over
the subsequent 20 years. The finish line is in sight and will be a gift to every generation to come."
generations to come, but have an estimated global savings of 40-50 billion US dollars over
the subsequent 20 years. The finish line is in sight and will be a gift to every generation to come."
Gregory Armstrong, MD - CDC’s Incident Manager for the Polio Eradication Response
Mission: Laboratory Safety
Laboratory incidents during 2014 raised national awareness of the importance of laboratory safety. CDC applied important lessons learned to ensuring its laboratories are safe and effective.
As a result of two incidents that occurred in CDC laboratories, CDC enacted a series of internal
changes and targeted activities to improve laboratory safety and quality. These changes included
establishing a CDC-wide single point of accountability for laboratory safety, establishing a
high-level internal working group to accelerate improvements in laboratory safety, establishing
an external advisory group for laboratory safety, and conducting intensive reviews of all BSL3
and BSL-4 laboratory facilities and protocols. A third incident involved the discovery of vials
of smallpox in a storage room on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus. As a result
of this incident, CDC and other federal agencies conducted comprehensive searches of their
facilities to identify Biological Select Agents and Toxins and ensure their proper registration,
safe stewardship, and secure storage or disposal. CDC will continue to work to change
processes that allowed these incidents to happen, prevent an occurrence like these in other
CDC laboratories, and to apply the lessons learned to inform biosafety and biosecurity
procedures at other laboratories across the United States. For more information,
visit http://www.cdc.gov/about/lab-safety/.
Leslie Dauphin, PhD
"Safety improvement is a continuous process. It is essential that we strive for the
highest standards of safety to ensure that CDC labs are the most scientifically rigorous
and the safest in the world."
highest standards of safety to ensure that CDC labs are the most scientifically rigorous
and the safest in the world."
Leslie Dauphin, PhD - Interim Director of Laboratory Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mission: Leading Causes of Death
Million Hearts® Campaign and Cardiovascular Deaths
Cardiovascular diseases account for one in every three deaths in the US. New ads provide practical strategies to improve cardiovascular health, enabling us to live healthier lives
Nearly 800,000 Americans die each year from cardiovascular diseases. Since launching,
Million Hearts® has made progress in addressing preventable illness and deaths from heart
attack and stroke by focusing on community and clinical prevention strategies. With the
support of key partners, Million Hearts® encouraged widespread adoption and use of standard
treatment protocols for improving blood pressure control. These simple steps help health care
providers improve management of patients with high blood pressure, reducing their risk of heart
attack and stroke. In addition, in 2014 Million Hearts® announced the launch of a new Healthy
Eating and Lifestyle Resource Center that features lower-sodium, heart-healthy recipes and
family-friendly meal plans, with an emphasis on managing sodium intake.
Janet S. Wright, MD, FACC
"Because sodium is a major contributor to high blood pressure, it is important to
help people understand how they can manage sodium intake at home. This online resource
offers practical, accessible eating and lifestyle-based solutions for people looking for ways
to reduce sodium in their diet."
help people understand how they can manage sodium intake at home. This online resource
offers practical, accessible eating and lifestyle-based solutions for people looking for ways
to reduce sodium in their diet."
Janet S. Wright, MD, FACC - Executive Director of Million Hearts
- Million Hearts ®
- Press Release (August 20, 2014): http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0820-million-hearts.html
Tips Campaign
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the US. New ads show the harms caused
by smoking and encourage people to quit
Cigarette Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United
States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. In 2014, CDC continued its national
tobacco education campaign- Tips From Former Smokers- with hard-hitting, new ads featuring
health conditions people may not realize are related to cigarette smoking, like pregnancy
complications and premature birth, gum disease and tooth loss, and stroke caused by smoking
in people who have HIV. New ads with new participants and health conditions are being
planned 2015. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/tips.
States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. In 2014, CDC continued its national
tobacco education campaign- Tips From Former Smokers- with hard-hitting, new ads featuring
health conditions people may not realize are related to cigarette smoking, like pregnancy
complications and premature birth, gum disease and tooth loss, and stroke caused by smoking
in people who have HIV. New ads with new participants and health conditions are being
planned 2015. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/tips.
"These new ads are powerful. They highlight illnesses and suffering caused by smoking
that people don’t commonly associate with cigarette use. Smokers have told us these ads
help them quit by showing what it’s like to live every day with disability and disfigurement
from smoking."
that people don’t commonly associate with cigarette use. Smokers have told us these ads
help them quit by showing what it’s like to live every day with disability and disfigurement
from smoking."
Tom Frieden, MD, MPH - Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Prescription Drug Overdose Kills Americans Everyday
A silent epidemic, opioid prescription drug overdose kills 44 people every day in the US. CDC joins with
partners to improve prescription monitoring, reducing unnecessary prescriptions
Every day, 44 people die from an overdose of prescription opioids in the United States.
In 2014, CDC issued aVital Signs report describing the problem and what states and health
care providers can do to more appropriately prescribe pain medicine. CDC is working with
partners and states to improve prescription drug monitoring systems that collect and analyze
prescribing data so that doctors and pharmacists are aware of other medications a patient may
be taking before prescribing or dispensing opioids. These systems can help reduce the chance
that a patient may receive multiple opioid prescriptions. For more information,
visitwww.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/opioid-prescribing.
"All too often, and in far too many communities, the treatment is becoming the problem.
States where prescribing rates are highest need to take a particularly hard look at ways
to reduce the inappropriate prescription of these drugs that are dangerous when misused
or abused."
States where prescribing rates are highest need to take a particularly hard look at ways
to reduce the inappropriate prescription of these drugs that are dangerous when misused
or abused."
Tom Frieden, MD, MPH - Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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