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Sentinel for Health: A History of the Centers for Disease Control
In the only history of its kind, Etheridge traces the development of the Centers for Disease Control from its inception as a malaria control unit during World War II through the mid-1980s . The eradication of smallpox, the struggle to identify an effective polio vaccine, the unraveling of the secrets of Legionnaires' disease, and the shock over the identification of the HIV virus are all chronicled here. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and source documents, Etheridge vividly recreates the vital decision-making incidents that shaped both the growth of this institution as well as the state of public health in this country for the last five decades.
We follow the development of the institution as it was transformed by the will and the imagination of remarkable individuals such as Dr. Joseph Mountin, one of the first heads of the CDC. Often characterized as abrasive and impatient, Mountin pushed the CDC to become a vital player in eradicating the threat of communicable disease in the United States. Others such as Dr. Alexander Langmuir brought the expertise necessary to establish epidemiology as one of the primary functions of the CDC.
Created to serve the states and to answer any call for help whether routine or extraordinary, the CDC is now widely recognized as one of the world's premier public health institutions.
We follow the development of the institution as it was transformed by the will and the imagination of remarkable individuals such as Dr. Joseph Mountin, one of the first heads of the CDC. Often characterized as abrasive and impatient, Mountin pushed the CDC to become a vital player in eradicating the threat of communicable disease in the United States. Others such as Dr. Alexander Langmuir brought the expertise necessary to establish epidemiology as one of the primary functions of the CDC.
Created to serve the states and to answer any call for help whether routine or extraordinary, the CDC is now widely recognized as one of the world's premier public health institutions.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 20, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 8, 2025
An interesting, readable history about the CDC. It does clearly express that it was commissioned by the CDC, however it does an ok job of throwing shade when necessary. There are, perhaps, some areas it could have had more, but I think what it did well was to show that these people are truly interested in the health of the community - whether it's the house you live in or the world we live on. It's especially poignant to read about how hard they had to work to eradicate smallpox and vaccinate for measles.
In the early 1950's, it was noted that "[b]etter health anywhere in the world paid dividends in America" p49.
When the US stopped vaccinating for smallpox, it was very controversial, but those in the field were surprised it took as long as it did to stop vaccinating. p 205. I guess, the thing I thought it was important to show was that if we all work together, we can wipe out a disease and make vaccinations unnecessary. And scientists are constantly re-evaluating their data to give the best recommendations.
P 226, The CDC uses epidemiology to demonstrate how much malnutrition is in America.
p282, We use Canadian model of health to focus on health instead of disease. They published data in 1979 and called the report Healthy People. It really changed the way people began thinking about health in the community. From smoking and seat-belt wearing habits to screening for cancer.
When it came to the start of the AIDS epidemic, I was impressed with the respect given to the homosexual community. What I didn't realize is that they had such a profound impact on the study of hepatitis B and ultimately the vaccine. p 326
highly recommend this book to get a sense of how health and it's priorities changed in America.
In the early 1950's, it was noted that "[b]etter health anywhere in the world paid dividends in America" p49.
When the US stopped vaccinating for smallpox, it was very controversial, but those in the field were surprised it took as long as it did to stop vaccinating. p 205. I guess, the thing I thought it was important to show was that if we all work together, we can wipe out a disease and make vaccinations unnecessary. And scientists are constantly re-evaluating their data to give the best recommendations.
P 226, The CDC uses epidemiology to demonstrate how much malnutrition is in America.
p282, We use Canadian model of health to focus on health instead of disease. They published data in 1979 and called the report Healthy People. It really changed the way people began thinking about health in the community. From smoking and seat-belt wearing habits to screening for cancer.
When it came to the start of the AIDS epidemic, I was impressed with the respect given to the homosexual community. What I didn't realize is that they had such a profound impact on the study of hepatitis B and ultimately the vaccine. p 326
highly recommend this book to get a sense of how health and it's priorities changed in America.
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November 18, 2012I read this book 10 years ago and thought it was a great read. I just finished reading it again and have to say that I liked it even more the second time around.
Elizabeth Etheridge has done a masterful job of chronicling the history of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, otherwise known as the CDC (established in 1946, as the Communicable Disease Center,
hence with the same acronym despite the change in name over the past 60 years) in its battle to prevent and control the spread first of infectious diseases but now tackling problems of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, occupational health, injuries and violence, environmental hazards and health effects, including natural disasters. The book is divided into sections that give the history of the rise (and in one or two cases- the near abolishment of the agency) and its preeminent role in responding to all of the major pandemics of the past half century. The chapter on AIDS is worth the price of the book alone and should be required reading for political science students. It's the perfect case study on how apathy, intolerance, ignorance and political infighting foster the spread of infectious diseases.
Elizabeth Etheridge has done a masterful job of chronicling the history of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, otherwise known as the CDC (established in 1946, as the Communicable Disease Center,
hence with the same acronym despite the change in name over the past 60 years) in its battle to prevent and control the spread first of infectious diseases but now tackling problems of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, occupational health, injuries and violence, environmental hazards and health effects, including natural disasters. The book is divided into sections that give the history of the rise (and in one or two cases- the near abolishment of the agency) and its preeminent role in responding to all of the major pandemics of the past half century. The chapter on AIDS is worth the price of the book alone and should be required reading for political science students. It's the perfect case study on how apathy, intolerance, ignorance and political infighting foster the spread of infectious diseases.
August 22, 2010
A detailed history of the CDC, funded by the CDC :). It was hard to get this book started, but once you're in it's totally exciting. It talks a lot about the big shots of CDC up to the 80s, genesis of it's organization developed, and how CDC contributed to the development of epidemiology and other research.
September 12, 2007
An excellent reference book chronicaling work on many infectious diseases. Not a novel to just sit down to read for entertainment.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews