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About CDC

Stories in this Section

1. Workforce
2. Work Sites
3. Operating Components
4. Fiscal Year 2008 Snapshot
5. Go Green, Get Healthy
6. Community Connections
7. CDC Foundation

On July 1, 1946 the Communicable Disease Center (CDC) opened its doors and occupied one floor of a small building in Atlanta. Its primary mission was simple yet highly challenging: prevent malaria from spreading across the nation. 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.

As the organization took root deep in the South, once known as the heart of the malaria zone, CDC founder Dr. Joseph Mountin continued to advocate for public health issues and to push for CDC to extend its responsibilities to other communicable diseases. In 1947, CDC made a token payment of $10 to Emory University for 15 acres of land on Clifton Road in Atlanta that now serves as CDC headquarters.

Today, CDC is one of the 13 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. During the past 62 years, CDC has grown dramatically in staff (nearly 15,000 personnel stationed in the United States and more than 54 foreign countries) and budget (more than $9.2 billion). And its mission has expanded as well. The world’s authority on communicable disease, CDC has broadened its focus to include chronic diseases, injury control, disabilities, and terrorism preparedness. The agency is now working on achieving four overarching Health Protection Goals to become a more performance-based agency focusing on healthy people, healthy places, preparedness, and global health.

Although much has changed since 1946, the heart of CDC is still its people and partners—dedicated, diligent, and making a difference around the world by helping people live healthier, safer, and longer lives.