The Value of Public Health

CDC works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to save lives, protect people, and save money through prevention.

CDC controls disease outbreaks, responds to natural disasters and bio terrorism, recommends ways to make food and water safe, prevents leading causes of death, strengthen public health capacity to reduce threats in the U.S. and globally.
CDC helps state and local public health departments with training, guidance, disease tracking, and support for laboratory capacity to ensure the U.S. can respond quickly and effectively to health threats.
CDC is America′s leading health protection agency, providing guidelines and recommendations for clinical and policy decision–makers as well as everyday citizens.

Regular childhood vaccinations prevent 20 million cases of disease, avert 42,000 deaths, and save nearly $76 billion.
The U.S. has saved $130 billion and prevented more than 300,000 HIV infections with the $19 billion invested in HIV prevention since 1981.
CDC′s folic acid fortification of cereal grains has prevented 10,000 birth defects in the last decade and saves the U.S. nearly $1 billion in annual medical costs and lost productivity.
CDC helps 60 countries to help stop threats before they reach U.S. borders.