National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

The National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) works to protect people at home and around the world from emerging and zoonotic infections ranging from A to Z-anthrax to Zika. We are living in an interconnected world where an outbreak of infectious disease is just a plane ride away. 1. Who We Are The National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases is committed to protecting people from domestic and global health threats, including - Foodborne illnesses like Salmonella and waterborne illnesses like infections with Naegleria fowleri (the “brain-eating” amoeba). - Infections that spread in hospitals and other healthcare settings. - Infections that are resistant to antibiotics. - Deadly diseases like Ebola and anthrax. - Illnesses that affect immigrants, migrants, refugees, and travelers. - Diseases caused by contact with animals, like rabies. - Diseases spread by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, including yellow fever, Lyme disease, and dengue. - Diseases new to the United States, like Zika and mpox. NCEZID’s scientists also do important work that leads to the development of more effective vaccines, therapeutic drugs, and tools to diagnose lesser-known diseases like Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus infections. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several flagship NCEZID programs—like the Office of Advanced Molecular Detection, the Laboratory Response Network, and the National Healthcare Safety Network—were essential to tracking COVID variants as they emerged across the country, monitoring the quality of healthcare and patient safety, and strengthening efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. To learn more, read about NCEZID’s 2021 Accomplishments. 2. About Our Name Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by germs (such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) that enter the body, multiply, and can cause an infection. Some infectious diseases are contagious (or communicable), that is, spread from one person to another. Other infectious diseases can be spread by germs carried in air, water, food, or soil. They can also be spread by vectors (like biting insects) or by animals. Emerging means infections that have increased recently or are threatening to increase in the near future. These infections could be completely new (like Bourbon virus, which was recently discovered in Kansas, or MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). completely new to an area (like chikungunya in Florida). reappearing in an area (like dengue in south Florida and Texas). caused by bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics, like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C. difficile, or drug-resistant TB. Zoonotic means a disease that is spread between animals and people; some examples include: Lyme disease (spread by ticks). Salmonella (spread by poultry). rabies (spread by mammals). 3. What We Do If CDC is in the headlines, chances are good that it's a story we re involved in. That s because the work of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) is about protecting America s health, safety, and security. We do this by keeping people safe from hundreds of infections ranging from A to Z anthrax to sepsis, Salmonella food poisoning to Zika. NCEZID is ground zero when there s an outbreak of infectious disease. We have world-class scientists, researchers, laboratories, and emergency responders to protect people from - Foodborne, waterborne, and fungal infections - Deadly diseases like Ebola - Bioterror threats like anthrax - Infections like rabies, Lyme disease, and Zika that spread between people, animals, and bugs - Illnesses spread in healthcare settings and drug-resistant threats - Illnesses that cross borders and affect travelers and people entering the country