Recent Outbreaks and Incidents – 2019

Illustration of lungs
Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-cigarette Use, or Vaping
(EOC Activation: September 2019-January 2020)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Monday, September 16, 2019, to enhance the inter-agency investigation into cases of lung injury associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping. CDC’s activation of the EOC allows the agency to provide increased operational support for the response to meet the outbreak’s evolving challenges. Agency subject matter experts led the CDC response with enhanced support from additional CDC and EOC staff. CDC also worked closely with states to collect information about e-cigarette product use, or vaping, among patients, and with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to test the substances or chemicals within e-cigarette products used by case patients. Learn more about the outbreak.

An Ebola worker putting on personal protective equipment
2018 Ebola Response
(EOC Activation: June 2019-June 2020)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center on Thursday, June 13, 2019, to support the inter-agency response to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The CDC assisted the DRC and Ugandan governments, countries bordering the outbreak area, and local and international partners. As part of the Administration’s whole-of-government effort, CDC subject matter experts worked with the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) on the ground in the DRC and the American Embassy in Kinshasa to support the Congolese and international response. Learn more about the outbreak and what DRC, Uganda, CDC, and others did to stop it.

Page last reviewed: March 7, 2022