About NCZVED

The National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED) was newly organized in April 2007 under CDC’s Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases. ZVED provides leadership, expertise, and service in laboratory and epidemiological science, bioterrorism preparedness, applied research, disease surveillance, and outbreak response for infectious diseases. This new Center brings together some of the oldest components of the agency – those dealing with viral, bacterial, parasitic, and other communicable diseases. ZVED combines these functions in a multidisciplinary strategy to understand, prevent, control and – where possible – eliminate infectious diseases within a larger ecologic context.

This ecological context includes humans, animals, and plants interacting in the complex, ever-changing natural environment.

ZVED's Compelling Vision

• Accelerating prevention, control, and preparedness of ecologically mediated microbial threats.
• Global vision, global presence, global reach, and health impact.
• Working at the intersection of human, animal, and ecological health to achieve healthier people, places, and a healthier world.

ZVED's vision is to improve health by reducing the impact of infectious diseases using a comprehensive approach focused on the human-animal-environment interface.

Acting Director of ZVED

The center is led by Assistant Surgeon General RADM Ali S. Khan whose career has focused on global health, bioterrorism, and emerging infectious diseases.

Dr. Khan's expertise lies in designing and leading initiatives that address public health emergencies and emerging infectious diseases in the U.S. and around the world. "Infectious diseases remain a major contributor to illness, death, and suffering throughout the world. We believe that taking a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach focused on the human-animal-environment interface is key to improving health."

ZVED's multidisciplinary approaches for understanding the dynamic world of infectious disease ecology and zoonotic diseases are accomplished within four divisions.