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Malaria, Dr. Seuss, RFK + Why the CDC Matters Now [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-04-02

You’ve probably heard about how RFK and DOGE are slashing the budget of the CDC and laying off thousands of workers, but you might not know how the CDC started and why it’s so important. Here’s how the CDC was born plus why the agency is still so important decades later.

Malaria & the Birth of the CDC (Dr. Seuss?)

Long before the CDC became a household name, a malaria outbreak—and a cartoon mosquito named Bloodthirsty Ann—played a big part in its creation. You’ve probably heard of The Cat in the Hat, but have you heard of Bloodthirsty Ann ? Created by none other than Ted Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) , Ann was a malaria-carrying mosquito featured in a 1943 booklet for American troops during World War II. The aim? To teach soldiers how to avoid getting bitten and infected.

At the time, malaria was a serious threat, especially in the southeastern U.S. and in military training camps based in the South and overseas. So in 1942, the U.S. Public Health Service set up the Office of Malaria Control in War Areas, based in Atlanta, to fight the disease. This wartime office focused on draining mosquito breeding grounds, spraying insecticide (including, later, DDT), and training local health workers.

Personally, I think a “malaria sucks!” slogan would have been more amusing and would have created a real buzz. (OMG, Get it!?) 🤮

It was part of a broader push to keep disease from overwhelming the military like it had in past wars. In fact, World War II marked the first time U.S. combat deaths outnumbered deaths from disease—thanks to penicillin, new flu vaccines, and malaria prevention efforts.

After the war, the malaria office was supposed to shut down. But, a public health visionary named Joseph Mountin saw its potential and expanded it into a new organization focused on fighting all communicable diseases. In 1946, the Communicable Disease Center was born—what we now know as the CDC.

The CDC continued anti-malaria work through its National Malaria Eradication Program starting in 1947. By 1951, malaria transmission was considered eliminated in the U.S. However, historians have pointed out that other factors—like improved housing, access to medication, and people moving out of rural areas—also played a big role in the disease’s decline.

Though malaria no longer spreads in the U.S., it remains a serious threat globally. In 2020 alone, there were over 240 million cases worldwide, with hundreds of thousands of deaths. Those numbers could further increase without a competent CDC.

The CDC’s Other Accomplishments

So, what else does the CDC actually do? Malaria isn’t the only disease that the CDC fights. Here are 5 other important battles that the CDC has fought since WWII:

Eradicating Smallpox (1970s): (that’s a big one!) The CDC played a key role in the global campaign that led to the eradication of smallpox in 1980—the only human disease ever eradicated.

Responding to the AIDS Crisis (1980s–1990s): The CDC was one of the first agencies to investigate and track the HIV/AIDS epidemic, helping define the disease and establish early prevention strategies.

Controlling Polio in the U.S. (1950s–1960s): Through surveillance and vaccination programs, the CDC helped eliminate polio transmission in the U.S.

Leading COVID-19 Response (2020–Present): The CDC guided national efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing public health guidance, tracking cases, and supporting vaccine rollout.

Launching the Epidemic Intelligence Service (1951): This rapid-response team of disease detectives has been vital in responding to outbreaks both in the U.S. and abroad.

You have to wonder where this country would be with a weak or non-existent CDC?

Potential Cost of CDC Budget Cuts, Layoffs

RFK is leading the politically-charged efforts to slash spending at the CDC including about 10,000 layoffs which is about 1/4 of all jobs at the CDC.

Here are some potential ramifications of slashing CDC spending and laying off staff:

Slower outbreak response: With fewer experts and resources, the CDC may not be able to quickly detect or contain disease outbreaks, increasing the risk of widespread illness.

Weakened surveillance systems: Budget cuts could undermine programs that monitor infectious diseases, making it harder to track trends or catch early warning signs.

Reduced public health support: State and local health departments often rely on CDC guidance, training, and funding—cuts could leave them underprepared during health emergencies.

Impact on chronic disease and prevention programs: Programs targeting asthma, diabetes, opioid abuse, and gun violence could be scaled back or eliminated.

Global health setbacks: The CDC supports global disease monitoring and vaccine programs; reductions might hurt efforts to control diseases like malaria, Ebola, and influenza abroad.

While RFK boasts that these layoffs and budget cuts will save $1.3B (source), consider the potential cost that these deep budget cuts may have.

Critics, including public health experts and former officials, have expressed concerns that these reductions will severely impact the department's capacity to respond to public health crises.

Senator Patty Murray described the plan as “an absurd suggestion” that “defies common sense,” citing ongoing outbreaks of bird flu, measles, and the fentanyl epidemic. (source)

I’m a big fan of saving money and cutting fat, but how much could the next pandemic cost us if we are slow to respond?

COVID-19 cost the global economy an estimated $16 trillion, (source) which is about 16,000 times more than the CDC cuts save!

I hope you found this brief history of the CDC interesting, and informative for your own opinions on its future. (or, lack thereof!)

*Originally posted on my substack

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