CDC’s 2015 Public Health Challenges and 2016 Strategic Plans Revealed

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a year-end review of its 2015 public health efforts, highlighting key achievements and outlining priorities for 2016. The digital press kit, published on December 28, 2015, underscores the agency’s role in combating infectious and chronic diseases, both domestically and globally, while addressing emerging health threats.

Progress Against Major Health Threats

In 2015, the CDC played a central role in controlling the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, helping to slow transmission rates and prevent future epidemics. The agency also reported a historic low in adult cigarette smoking rates, marking a significant milestone in tobacco control efforts. The CDC collaborated with healthcare industries nationwide to combat antibiotic resistance, a growing public health concern.

Despite these advances, the CDC acknowledged persistent challenges, including the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, which claimed at least 23,000 American lives in 2015. Prescription drug abuse also remained a critical issue, with over 160,000 deaths attributed to overdoses in the past decade. Smoking, identified as the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., continued to demand sustained intervention.

“CDC works to protect the health, safety, and security of Americans—and 2015 was a particularly challenging—and successful—year. Old and new threats to our health, such as Ebola, dengue, HIV, e-cigarette use among kids, foodborne illness, prescription drug overdoses, and increased drug resistance are just a few of the threats that kept us up at night—and will keep us busy in 2016.”

CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.

2016 Priorities: Antibiotic Resistance, Drug Overdoses, and Tobacco

Looking ahead to 2016, the CDC outlined three major focus areas:

• Reversing deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections, which the agency described as “largely preventable.”
• Preventing deaths from prescription drug abuse, a crisis that has escalated over the past decade.
• Sustaining efforts to reduce smoking, the nation’s top cause of preventable death.

The CDC’s strategic framework for 2016–2020, released separately, aligns with these priorities. The agency emphasized improving health security at home and abroad, preventing leading causes of illness and death, and strengthening collaboration between public health and healthcare systems.

Global and Domestic Health Security

The CDC’s 2015 efforts extended beyond U.S. Borders, with the agency supporting global health security initiatives to detect and respond to emerging threats. Domestically, the CDC allocated nearly 85% of its funding to state and local entities, enabling them to address disease outbreaks, chronic conditions, and other health risks at the community level.

The agency’s annual budget, exceeding $12 billion (including the Vaccines for Children program), supported a workforce of over 13,000 staff and operations in more than 60 countries. This infrastructure allowed the CDC to respond rapidly to health emergencies while advancing long-term prevention strategies.

Ongoing Challenges and Uncertainties

While the CDC celebrated progress in 2015, the press kit acknowledged that sporadic Ebola cases could still occur in West Africa. The agency also highlighted the need for continued vigilance against other infectious diseases, such as dengue and HIV, as well as non-communicable threats like e-cigarette use among youth and foodborne illnesses.

Antibiotic resistance remained a particularly urgent concern. The CDC’s 2015 data underscored the need for coordinated action to preserve the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and develop new treatments. Similarly, the opioid crisis demanded a multifaceted response, including improved prescribing practices, expanded access to treatment, and public education.

Public Health Initiatives and Future Directions

The CDC’s 2016 plans built on existing national health initiatives, such as the National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship and the Healthy Brain Initiative, which aim to address chronic diseases and cognitive health. The agency also prioritized cross-cutting programs like the 6|18 Initiative, which accelerates evidence-based interventions for high-burden health conditions.

Emergency preparedness remained a cornerstone of the CDC’s mission, with ongoing efforts to enhance the nation’s ability to respond to pandemics, bioterrorism, and other health security threats. The agency’s National Health Security Strategy and Global Health Security Agenda reflected this commitment to safeguarding public health in an increasingly interconnected world.

As the CDC transitioned into 2016, its leadership emphasized the need for sustained investment in public health infrastructure. The agency’s ability to detect, respond to, and prevent health threats depended on robust funding, scientific innovation, and collaboration across sectors. While 2015 had demonstrated progress, the CDC’s work was far from complete, with new and evolving challenges on the horizon.