The Division of Parasitic Diseases' (DPD) mission is to prevent and control parasitic diseases in the United States and throughout the world. We accomplish this by:

• Conducting surveillance, investigations, and studies of parasitic diseases to define disease etiology, mode of transmission, and populations at risk — and to develop effective methods for diagnosis, prevention, control, and elimination.
• Conducting or participating in clinical, field, and laboratory research to develop, evaluate, and improve laboratory methodologies and materials and therapeutic practices used for rapid and accurate diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases.
• Providing epidemic aid and epidemiologic consultation and reference diagnostic services to state and local health departments, other federal agencies, and national and international health organizations.
• Conducting a program of laboratory and field research in biology and ecology of host-parasite relationships to develop improved methods for diagnosis, prevention, and control of parasitic diseases.
• Maintaining field-based research and program activities in numerous developing countries.
• Providing communications support for science-based information for the public, local, and state health officials, national and international partners and private organizations to better inform health decisions to prevent and control parasitic diseases.