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CDC′s Disease Detectives: Contagion, the Movie: Hollywood's Take on Disease Detectives

Boy getting foot treatment

In the initial production stages of Contagion, some cast and crew members visited CDC for preliminary research. CDC′s real life disease detectives hope the movie spurs an increase of interest in the EIS program, as well as public health in general. Dr. Rima Khabbaz comments, “I think it is great if they make a good movie that portrays the work we do at CDC and the passion that CDC staff bring to preventing and controlling disease and improving health.”

Since 1951, over 3,000 EIS officers have responded to requests for epidemiologic assistance within the United States and throughout the world. Yet, CDC′s EIS program is only one part of a complex infrastructure designed to protect people from emerging disease threats at home and around the globe.

 
Dr. Anne Schuchat

Dr. Anne Schuchat, former EIS officer and now director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), agrees that it′s valuable for CDC to be involved in projects like this. “Recruiting young people to public health, the EIS program, and to help intrigue people into using science for the public′s benefit. I hope the film will show what a great place CDC is to work and how meaningful it is to devote your time to public health.”

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