At a glance
Since 1980, when CDC created the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), this flagship program has helped build a global workforce of field epidemiologists or "disease detectives." Global health security relies on this skilled public health workforce to protect our health, identify risks, and make effective decisions during a public health emergency.
What We Do
At CDC's Division of Global Health Protection, we train disease detectives around the world, giving them the necessary skills to collect, analyze, and rapidly respond to outbreaks. They are the public health "boots on the ground," helping track, contain, and eliminate outbreaks before they become epidemics. When health threats strike, these trained disease detectives investigate and apply their knowledge to keep people from getting sick. They provide the vital skills and leadership needed to ensure that crucial information is quickly communicated to health officials and communities to save lives and stop diseases before they spread.
For example:
- In Uganda, more than 50 FETP trainees and graduates helped combat the 2022–2023 Ebola outbreak. They played a role in every aspect of the response, identifying and investigating cases, tracing contacts, analyzing, and sharing data for decision-making, and implementing control measures.
- In Pakistan, an FETP graduate trained seaport workers on health and safety standards for vessels. The workshop enhanced skills to monitor and secure entry points, supporting Pakistan in meeting international health standards and advancing global health security goals.
- In 2021, Vietnam's successful COVID-19 containment was disrupted by the Delta variant surge. FETP experts swiftly established virtual training for infection prevention and control, lab quality, and epidemiology, facilitated real-time PCR testing training, and developed a data analysis curriculum to help health officials effectively monitor outbreaks.
Impact
DGHP's Field Epidemiology Training Program is making a remarkable impact worldwide, driving significant advancements and positive change in global health security and overall public health outcomes. CDC-supported FETPs have trained more than 22,000 disease detectives who respond to the world's most urgent health events in more than 90 countries across the globe.
Beyond building the world's public health workforce, FETP is a global network that allows graduates to stay connected as they guide and mentor the next generation of public health leaders.
