Outbreaks of foodborne illness are both common and costly. Each year, about 1,000 outbreaks occur in this country, sickening 1 out of 6 Americans, and killing 3,000 people and costing as much as $152 billion in healthcare expenses and lost productivity. With passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act, FDA, CDC, the Department of Agriculture and other partners at federal, state and local levels are identifying these outbreaks and stopping them more quickly, monitoring  trends in foodborne illness and outbreaks more closely, conducting applied research for better diagnosis and prevention, and tracking the effectiveness of policies to reduce the spread of these illnesses.

The goal of Million Hearts is to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes across the United States over five years. Campaign badges, such as this one, can be downloaded to a website, social network profile or email signature. Million Hearts campaign information can be found at http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/index.shtml

About 1 in 20 patients who are hospitalized contracts a healthcare-associated infection (HAI), killing 100,000 Americans and costing roughly $30 billion each year. At least one-third of these infections can be prevented with tools and procedures that already exist but are currently underutilized.  Basic infection-control procures, such as hand-washing, are simple, yet effective, preventive interventions that should be used in all clinical settings. There has recently been a decline in some types of HAIs, in part because more than half of states now require reporting of HAIs, and nearly 5,000 healthcare facilities throughout the country are enrolled in the Internet-based National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance system. 

More than 400,000 of our nation’s girls age 15-19 years give birth each year. Pregnancy can have immediate and long-term negative effects for teen parents and their children and can perpetuate a cycle of poverty. Although rates of teen pregnancy are at their lowest recorded levels, they still are far too high, and considerable racial and ethnic disparities persist. Areas that expand access to information and services can substantially reduce teen pregnancy and reduce health disparities.

Motor-vehicle crashes, the leading cause of death among Americans between ages 5-34 years, kill about 33,000 people and send more than four million to emergency departments every year.  Improvements in trauma care have contributed to the recent decline in motor-vehicle deaths, but rates could be reduced even further through simple, low-cost methods such as universal requirements for seat belts, helmets and child restraints; stronger enforcement of drunken driving laws; and graduated driver’s licenses for teens.

Despite being preventable, HIV continues to spread, with more than 50,000 Americans newly infected each year joining more than a million already living with HIV. Rates are increasing among younger men who have sex with men. Increasing testing in clinical and nonclinical settings and improving linkage to care so that those who are infected can start treatment as early as possible are important prevention strategies. Suppression of viral load has emerged as critical to reducing spread of HIV. CDC works with other federal agencies to implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which is designed to achieve a more coordinated national response to the HIV epidemic.

Global Health

At CDC, we work “24/7” to protect our nation and the world from threats to health, safety and security. Ambassador Johnnie Carson, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of African Affairs, recently noted “CDC is the 9-1-1 for the world.” We take these responsibilities seriously and are expanding partnerships with state and local health departments as well as with ministries of health in other countries to better prevent illness, injury, disability and death from both communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and from natural and man-made threats. Global health issues have a direct impact on our nation. If we don’t prevent and control disease abroad, we are at higher risk here at home. Better health abroad also contributes to economic growth and improved political stability.

In the coming year and beyond, CDC will continue to fulfill our mission to help people live longer, healthier and more-productive lives. We will focus on the biggest problems, where we can have the greatest impact. We recognize the importance of strong public and private partnerships and will work even more closely with all sectors of society. Because we all are connected by the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink, we will expand our efforts to protect and improve health globally through science, policy, partnership and evidence-based public health action.

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