National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases is a principal component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dedicated to preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats. Its mission encompasses a wide spectrum of illnesses, from newly emerging pathogens to ancient zoonotic diseases that spread between animals and humans. The center plays a critical role in national and global health security through advanced surveillance, cutting-edge laboratory science, and rapid outbreak response.

Mission and strategic priorities

The core mission is to protect public health from a diverse array of infectious disease threats through comprehensive prevention and control strategies. A primary strategic priority is enhancing national capabilities for detecting and responding to novel pathogens and bioterrorism agents. This involves strengthening complex surveillance systems like the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System and building laboratory capacity through networks such as the Laboratory Response Network. Another key focus is combating antimicrobial resistance across healthcare and community settings, aligning with national initiatives like the U.S. National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. The center also prioritizes reducing the burden of chronic and serious infections, including those linked to healthcare, and advancing the science of disease modeling and forecasting to improve preparedness.

Organizational structure and key divisions

The center is organized into several major divisions and offices, each specializing in distinct public health domains. The Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology manages threats from viruses like Ebola and oversees the critical Special Pathogens Branch. The Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion focuses on preventing infections associated with medical care and combating antimicrobial-resistant organisms. The Division of Vector-Borne Diseases addresses illnesses transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes and ticks, including West Nile virus and Lyme disease. Other essential units include the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, which investigates outbreaks linked to Salmonella and Legionella, and the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, which operates under the authority of the Public Health Service Act to prevent disease introduction at U.S. ports of entry.

Major research and public health programs

The center conducts extensive research and manages flagship programs to mitigate infectious disease risks. Significant initiatives include the Emerging Infections Program, a network conducting active population-based surveillance for pathogens like Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Network provides specialized capacity for detecting resistant organisms across all U.S. states. Research into influenza and other respiratory viruses is coordinated with the World Health Organization to inform vaccine development. The One Health approach is a foundational program, fostering collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health experts, involving partners like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Other critical work includes the Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System and studies on the pathogenesis of diseases like viral hemorrhagic fever.

Notable outbreaks and response activities

The center has been at the forefront of responding to numerous high-consequence public health emergencies. Its experts were deployed during the 2014-2016 Western African Ebola virus epidemic, providing critical support for infection control and epidemiology. The center played a leading role in the domestic response to the 2009 swine flu pandemic caused by the Influenza A virus subtype H1N1. It has managed multistate outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to pathogens like Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. More recently, its divisions were deeply involved in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to surveillance, laboratory testing guidance, and studies on SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The center also coordinates investigations of novel threats, such as outbreaks of acute flaccid myelitis and the spread of Zika virus in the Americas.

Leadership and history

The center was established in 2010 following a reorganization of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consolidating programs from the former National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases and other units. This restructuring aimed to create a more agile and integrated entity to address the converging threats of emerging and zoonotic diseases. Its leadership has included directors who are prominent figures in the fields of epidemiology and public health preparedness, often with backgrounds in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The center's creation reflects evolving priorities in global health security, influenced by seminal events like the 2001 anthrax attacks and the spread of SARS in 2003, which underscored the need for a robust, dedicated infrastructure to confront complex biological threats.

Category:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category:Public health organizations in the United States Category:Infectious disease organizations