Zombies: The CDC Responds

Well how about THAT! The CDC actually responded to me in regard to my inquiry about zombies — my tax dollars at work!

Here is what they had to say -

Thank you for your submission to CDC-INFO. In response to your comments regarding information about zombies appearing on the CDC website, we can provide you with the following information.

Zombies are huge in pop culture right now and garner a lot more attention than our regular preparedness topics. We are using them as a metaphor, though, for serious events like floods, hurricanes, and other disasters that people dont typically talk about until its too late. The purpose of CDC’s blog post was simply to get people thinking about emergency preparedness and the basic concepts: get a kit, make a plan, be informed.

Editorial Note: Due to the paragraph above, I fully believe there is an anti-apostrophe conspiracy in our government.  Pass it on before it’s too late.  The oxford comma could be NEXT!

Websites may link to cdc.gov or any part of the website without permission.

As a Federal agency, CDC rarely links to commercial (.com) websites. Each link to a commercial site must be approved individually. Links are not approved just because a commercial site links to CDC.

CDC links to other Federal government agencies and to non-profit and educational organizations and state government agencies that partner with CDC on specific initiatives.

For more information about emergency preparedness, please visit the CDC website:

Emergency Preparedness and You

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/preparedness/

We appreciate your interest in our messages and materials and look forward to assisting you again in the future.

Thank you for contacting CDC-INFO Contact Center. Please do not hesitate to call 1-800-CDC-INFO, e-mail cdcinfo@cdc.gov or visit http://www.cdc.gov if you have any additional questions.  

CDC-INFO is a service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). This service is provided by Vangent, Inc. under contract to CDC and ATSDR.

Was it a response to my question about the airborne zombie virus? Did they ACTUALLY answer the question? No…

Were they pretty clear that they wouldn’t be linking to MY blog? Yeah…

Was it all I’ve come to expect from our government? Of course… what’s a little zombie metaphor between friends if it means being prepared for disasters we currently KNOW about?

The CDC’s zombie awareness campaign, let’s just call it “The Metaphor” now, is extensive.  They have a Zombie Task Force and a Preparedness Challenge (Links below in the photos if you are interested)

Here’s an excerpt from their Web site.

Never Fear – CDC is Ready

Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Prepared

If zombies did start roaming the streets, CDC would conduct an investigation much like any other disease outbreak. CDC would provide technical assistance to cities, states, or international partners dealing with a zombie infestation. This assistance might include consultation, lab testing and analysis, patient management and care, tracking of contacts, and infection control (including isolation and quarantine). It’s likely that an investigation of this scenario would seek to accomplish several goals: determine the cause of the illness, the source of the infection/virus/toxin, learn how it is transmitted and how readily it is spread, how to break the cycle of transmission and thus prevent further cases, and how patients can best be treated. Not only would scientists be working to identify the cause and cure of the zombie outbreak, but CDC and other federal agencies would send medical teams and first responders to help those in affected areas (I will be volunteering the young nameless disease detectives for the field work).

To learn more about what CDC does to prepare for and respond to emergencies of all kinds, visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/cdc/orgs_progs.asp

To learn more about how you can prepare for and stay safe during an emergency visit:http://emergency.cdc.gov/

Join the CDC Zombie Task Force! The CDC Foundation, a non-profit partner of CDC is offering Zombie Task Force t-shirts (click on the picture to find out more).  Proceeds go to benefit disaster relief efforts and other important health programs. Get yours before they’re gone…

Are you prepared? Tell us…
Have you begun preparing for a zombie apocalypse? Or maybe you have been preparing for a more realistic threat like hurricanes or the next flu season? Tell us about what you are doing to prepare! Enter our video contest here: http://prepare.challenge.gov