In our globalized world, contagious diseases such as Ebola and other health threats can spread rapidly across international borders. Every country needs a team of highly-trained epidemiologists to detect and rapidly respond to outbreaks. Since 1980, CDC, through the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), has partnered with ministries of health to:

• Strengthen public health systems;

• Build workforce capacity; and

• Reduce the shortage of trained field epidemiologists able to detect, investigate and rapidly respond to health threats.

FETP has been fully engaged in the Ebola response in West Africa. Resident Advisors, staff, residents and graduates are helping to support their countries’ preparedness activities worldwide and deploying as field epidemiologists to the heavily affected countries to assist with activities such as contact tracing and surveillance.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection