66th Annual EIS Conference

What

CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) will host the 66^th Annual EIS Conference from April 24-27 in Atlanta. During the event, EIS officers—also known as CDC disease detectives—describe the investigations they conducted over the past year.

When health threats arise in America or around the world, EIS officers are among the first to respond. In 2016, EIS officers battled Zika virus, the opioid epidemic, antibiotic resistance, unintentional injuries, healthcare-associated infections, foodborne illnesses, and chronic diseases. The EIS conference offers reporters the opportunity to speak directly with disease detectives protecting the public’s health.

When

April 24-27, 2017

Media Availability

On the Front Lines: Disease Detectives Combat Deadly Threats
On April 24 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. (ET), CDC’s Acting Principal Deputy Director Dr. Patricia Simone will host a media availability for reporters. Four current EIS officers will describe the behind-the-scenes details of their investigations of acute flaccid myelitis, the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris, the opioid epidemic, and Zika. Reporters can attend in person or by bridge line.

Where

Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart, Building 2; 240 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 2200; Atlanta, GA 30303

Background

EIS is the world’s premier public health fellowship in applied epidemiology. Each year, 70-80 new EIS officers are selected from among hundreds of physicians, doctoral-level scientists, veterinarians, and other health professionals who apply to this competitive fellowship program. During their two-year fellowship, EIS officers are on the front lines of public health, protecting Americans and the global community as boots-on-the-ground epidemiologists. Since 1951, more than 3,600 EIS officers have responded to domestic and international health threats. EIS alumni have gone on to become CDC directors; leading CDC scientists; acting surgeons general; WHO assistant directors general, regional directors, and country directors; public health and medical school faculty and deans; city health commissioners; and state epidemiologists. Others are leaders in industry, foundations, nongovernmental organizations, and the media.

Important Instructions

Media wanting to attend the EIS conference should RSVP to CDC Media Relations by April 21 by emailing media@cdc.gov or calling 404-639-3286.

For more information about the conference: https://www.cdc.gov/EIS/Conference.html.

For more information about the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service: https://www.cdc.gov/eis

###
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES