Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases

The Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases Cooperative Agreement (ELC) was formed in 1995 as a key component of CDC’s national strategy to address emerging infectious disease threats. The program plays a critical role in strengthening national infectious disease infrastructure by providing funding to all 50 state health departments, 6 local health departments (Los Angeles County, Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, Houston, and the District of Columbia), Puerto Rico, and the Republic of Palau to prevent, detect, and respond to new and emerging infectious diseases.

With ELC support, health departments build their public health capacity by hiring and training staff, buying laboratory equipment and supplies for diagnosing emerging pathogens, and investing in information technology to improve disease reporting and monitoring.

ELC investments support work on zoonotic and vector-borne diseases (particularly rabies and West Nile Virus [WNV]), foodborne diseases, influenza, antimicrobial resistance, and prion disease. The ELC has also provided health departments with the flexibility and capacity to quickly recognize and respond to outbreaks of new and emerging infectious disease threats, such as SARS and monkeypox.