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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, commonly known as the "CDC," is the national health institute of the United States. "Founded" (created and begun) in 1946, the CDC works to protect "public health" (the health of an entire population) and safety by controlling and preventing disease, "injury" (physical damage, such as a broken bone), and "disability" (an inability to use one's body normally, such as "deafness" (not being able to hear)). In the past, the CDC primarily focused on infectious or communicable disease, but now it also works on health issues surrounding "obesity" (being overweight) and "diabetes" (the presence of too much sugar in the blood).

The CDC "monitors" (observes) and "responds" (reacts) to disease "outbreaks" (the sudden appearance and spread of an illness) to try to slow or stop the spread of disease. The CDC also works on "food safety," trying to ensure that the food sold and "consumed" (eaten) in the United States "is free of" (does not have) "pathogens" (organisms that cause illness). For example, when people are "sickened" (become ill) with "foodborne illnesses" (diseases found in food) such as "salmonella" (a deadly bacteria found on raw chicken, for example), "epidemiologists" (scientists who study the spread of disease) work to "trace the bacteria to its source" (understand where the bacteria first appeared) and prevent it from spreading further.

The CDC also responds to "environmental health issues" (instances where chemicals in the environment present dangers to human health) and "occupational health issues" (efforts to ensure the safety of people at work).