Atlanta’s 4th gift to the world is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, commonly called the CDC.

First organized in Atlanta in 1946, the CDC has contributed to the health and well-being of American citizens and people around the world by researching and fighting diseases from tuberculosis and smallpox to AIDS. Interestingly, the South was once the heart of the malaria zone (think mosquitoes), and the CDC’s initial focus was on killing mosquitoes. Now, the CDC has nearly 15,000 staff members across the United States and in 45 countries around the world.

I know I’m grateful for the work the CDC does. And their Web site is a wealth of information on wellness issues from flu shots to diabetes awareness.

Thank you, CDC, for your relentless commitment to public health.