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Glossary · Institutions

CDC

US federal public health agency based in Atlanta. Global reference on hantavirus diseases since the identification of Sin Nombre virus in 1993.

Also called : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US CDC Institutions

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is the US federal agency responsible for public health. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it is the global reference on hantavirus diseases since the identification of Sin Nombre virus during the Four Corners outbreak in 1993. The majority of epidemiological and clinical data used on HantaTracker comes from their official publications.

Overview

History

The CDC was founded in 1946 under the original name Communicable Disease Center. Initially focused on malaria in the southern United States, its mission expanded to cover all communicable diseases, then all of public health: chronic disease prevention, environmental safety, occupational health, health emergencies and international cooperation.

Organisation

The CDC is part of the US federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It employs around 12,000 people and is organised into several thematic centres, including the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), which handles the hantavirus portfolio.

Reference publications

Three publications structure the CDC's scientific authority:

  • Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): weekly scientific journal, a global reference for epidemiological surveillance.
  • Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID): monthly journal, scientific publication on emerging diseases.
  • Health Alert Network (HAN): urgent alerts distributed to US clinicians.

Historical role on hantavirus diseases

Identification of Sin Nombre virus

In May 1993, a series of unusual cases of acute fatal respiratory syndrome appeared in the Four Corners region (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah). The CDC isolated the pathogen within months and characterised a new hantavirus, named Sin Nombre virus ("nameless virus"). It was the first New World hantavirus identified, and the first description of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome as a distinct clinical entity.

National surveillance

Since 1993, the CDC has maintained the most comprehensive database in the world on human cases of pulmonary syndrome: 890 cases between 1993 and end of 2023, with an annual range of 11 to 48 cases and an average case fatality rate of 36%. This surveillance is one of the pillars of epidemiological knowledge on American hantavirus diseases.

Clinical guidelines

The CDC's Clinician Briefs (one for pulmonary syndrome, one for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) are international clinical references. They cover: clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, laboratory findings, therapeutic management, protective measures. Most of the clinical recommendations in our glossary (case fatality, clinical management, intensive care) come from these documents.

Role in the MV Hondius episode

HAN 528

The CDC issued, via its Health Alert Network, alert HAN 528 — 2026 Multi-country Hantavirus Cluster Linked to Cruise Ship. This advisory provides US clinicians with: a description of the episode, the appropriate response when a symptomatic patient with recent MV Hondius exposure presents, and procedures for reporting to state public health authorities.

Follow-up of US passengers

Three identified US passengers are under surveillance in their respective states, in coordination between the CDC and the state public health departments. Follow-up follows the standard protocol: daily symptom monitoring for 42 days, with direct access to a designated physician.

International cooperation

The CDC cooperates with WHO and ECDC for sharing virological information on Andes virus and coordinating international recommendations. This cooperation illustrates the interlocking of the three global (WHO) — European (ECDC) — American (CDC) reference agencies that HantaTracker considers priority sources.

Key figures

Standards & references

Frequently asked questions

Why is the CDC a reference on hantavirus?

The CDC identified the first New World hantavirus — Sin Nombre virus — during the Four Corners outbreak in 1993. Since then, the CDC has maintained the most comprehensive database in the world on human cases, has characterised the majority of US strains, and publishes the reference clinical recommendations (Clinician Briefs for HPS and HFRS). All US epidemiological statistics in our glossary come from the CDC.

What is the CDC's role in the MV Hondius episode?

Three main roles: (1) communication to US clinicians via the Health Alert Network (HAN 528) about the episode and the appropriate response; (2) follow-up of US passengers who returned home (3 contacts identified as of 10 May 2026) in coordination with the public health authorities of the relevant states; (3) virological expertise made available to WHO and ECDC on Andes virus.

Is the CDC part of WHO?

No. The CDC is a US federal agency, under the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services. It is not part of WHO but cooperates closely with it, particularly on international outbreaks. The United States is also a WHO member state and contributes to its funding.

Further reading