During the 1960s, CDC epidemiologists continued to work in infectious diseases domestically, especially drug-resistance in hospitals and Salmonella in commercial chicken products. A 1961 study of leukemia in Niles, Illinois, marked the first of several investigations of cancer clusters and the introduction of chronic disease epidemiology to CDC. Langmuir extended the scope of CDC epidemiology by initiating a family planning activity in 1963, and 4 years later, he established the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program.
Possibly Langmuir's most recognized contribution was the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), a combined training and service program formed initially in response to the threat of bioterrorism.
Since 1951, approximately 2,700 EIS officers have provided CDC and the states with a rapid-response capacity for any public health need in an estimated 10,000 investigations domestically and internationally. EIS-trained epidemiologists remain at CDC in leadership positions; others occupy prominent positions in other government agencies, academia, and international organizations.
One investigation put CDC and applied epidemiology in the public eye for the first time. On April 12, 1955 (the anniversary of the death of Franklin Roosevelt), the favorable results of the field trial of inactivated poliovirus vaccine were announced; 5 days later, a massive national vaccination campaign was initiated.
However, within a week, paralytic polio was diagnosed in a child who had received the vaccine, and as new cases emerged, Langmuir was called on to investigate.
A surveillance unit was set up and began issuing daily reports. On May 8, the U.S. Surgeon General declared a moratorium on the program.
Using all the EIS officers and working with the states, CDC established the association with two lots of vaccine from one manufacturer, cleared the other four manufacturers, and persuaded public authorities by June 1 to restart the program.
The 1970s saw an expanding role for epidemiology at CDC. CDC epidemiologists identified contaminated bottles of intravenous fluid, leading to a national recall; linked liver cancer in certain workers with exposure to vinyl chloride; played a pivotal role in the global eradication of smallpox; identified Ebola virus in Zaire and the Sudan; identified toxic-shock syndrome; and uncovered the association between aspirin use and Reye syndrome.
The Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study, conducted in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, and the Study of the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control were important not only for their findings but also for the introduction of large numbers of analytic epidemiologists and statisticians to CDC.
The 1976 investigation of Legionnaires disease in Pennsylvania highlighted collaboration between laboratory scientists and epidemiologists in the discovery of new and important pathogens. Field epidemiology training programs established in Canada and Thailand were the first of now 34 EIS-like programs around the world.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome dominated the 1980s and, together with expansion of agency programs in noninfectious diseases, added behavioral and social scientists to CDC's team of epidemiologists, statisticians, and laboratory scientists. Infectious diseases---notably Escherichia coli O157:H7 associated with hemorrhagic diarrhea and hemolytic-uremic syndrome---remained important.
However, studies of chronic diseases, violence, disasters, refugees, and toxic exposures to both environmental and commercial products such as cooking oil, medications, diet supplements, and paint engaged increasing numbers of epidemiologists.
Since 1990, CDC epidemiologists have collaborated with an expanding array of partners around the world to tackle noninfectious diseases and injuries, as well as emerging infections, such as hantavirus, cryptosporidiosis, West Nile virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and the threat of pandemic influenza.
Global eradication programs in polio and dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease) engage a global network of epidemiologists with the World Health Organization, international governments, and the private sector. Prevention effectiveness and informatics have been added to the epidemiologist's toolkit.
Hundreds of epidemiologists were deployed to address disasters at the World Trade Center and the anthrax poisonings in 2001 and hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
CDC's Timothy Cunningham's body found in the river
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Re: CDC's Timothy Cunningham's body found in the river
It seems not to matter how many lives are sacrificed to keep The Illusion going. This is all so sad! The Hidden Hand seems to continue controlling. 
TC 
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