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In May 2015, the World Health Organization reported the first local transmission of Zika virus in the Western Hemisphere, with autochthonous (locally acquired) cases identified in Brazil. As of January 15, 2016, local transmission had been identified in at least 14 countries or territories in the Americas, including Puerto Rico (See Pan American Health Organization [PAHO] link below for countries and territories in the Americas with Zika virus transmission). Further spread to other countries in the region is likely.

In 2016, CDC is looking forward to continuing work on the Global Health Security Agenda, an initiative to commit $1 billion over the next 5 years to help 30 countries better prepare for the health impacts of natural and man-made disasters. Find out how CDC will work with partners to build a global network to rapidly and effectively respond to disease outbreaks as well as help countries build their own capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to emergencies.

As the temperatures get colder, make sure you know how to stay warm. Don’t get caught winging it! We have cute penguins with winter preparedness tips to help you be safe and healthy this winter.

While the spread of the disease and U.S. media attention was at its peak in 2014, some of CDC’s most impactful and important work took place in 2015. This year’s response to the Ebola epidemic was marked with many challenges and accomplishments, new discoveries, and continuous hard work by hundreds of CDC staff. The dedication of CDC and its partners throughout the year has also led to the successful end of widespread Ebola transmission in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Get an update on the Ebola outbreak in our latest blog post.

As cold weather sets in, clothing layers increase, scarves are pulled tighter, and noses become redder. This time of year can also bring the dreaded running nose, scratchy throat, cough, body aches, and headache of the seasonal flu. As you fretfully try to protect yourself from the winter season with warmer clothes and hot drinks, are you also taking steps to protect yourself from the bigger threat of the flu? Find out more about the flu vaccine in our latest blog post.

In our year in review, we look back at the highly publicized measles outbreak linked to Disneyland Resort Theme Parks in California. The outbreak quickly became a multi-state public health incident that resulted in a total of 147 cases. Among the reported measles cases, a majority of patients were unvaccinated or had an unknown or undocumented vaccination status. Read more about the outbreak, why measles is a big deal in the United States, and how you can protect yourself.

As the holiday season quickly approaches and holiday shopping begins, find a gift that truly show those you love how much you care—the gift of preparedness. Check out Public Health Matters latest post for ideas on creating the perfect emergency kits for your friends and family.

Holiday meals can be memorable, but it takes more than a great recipe to make those memories happy. Learn how to prepare your meal safely so that your holiday isn’t spent dealing with food poisoning. Check out our new Public Health Matters post for a list of common food safety mistakes and tips for preventing them.

Meet Mark Hall, an emergency management specialist in CDC’s Division of Emergency Operations. Part of the Plans, Training, Exercise, and Evaluation Team — Mark and his team make sure CDC is prepared to respond to any public health emergency the agency may face.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are investigating recent increases in fentanyl-related unintentional overdose fatalities in multiple states across the U.S. The purpose of this HAN advisory is to: (1) alert public health departments, health care providers, first responders, and medical examiners and coroners to the possibility of additional increases in other jurisdictions, (2) provide recommendations for improving detection of fentanyl-related overdose outbreaks and (3) encourage states to expand access to naloxone and training for administering naloxone to reduce opioid overdose deaths.