The Center for Communicable Diseases established in 1946 had a main goal of what?

The primary goal of the Center for Communicable Diseases, established in 1946, was to control and prevent the spread of communicable diseases. While addressing malaria was certainly an important aspect of their early efforts—especially given the public health challenges posed by the disease at that time—the Center’s broader mission extended beyond just malaria.

The establishment of the Center marked a significant effort by the federal government to focus on the prevention and control of various communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, influenza, and others that could have widespread impacts on public health. Therefore, the goal of controlling a broader range of communicable diseases reflects the comprehensive approach intended by the Center’s creation.

In this context, the focus on just malaria as the main goal does not encompass the full spectrum of the Center's mission, which included a variety of diseases that required coordinated efforts at both the national and community levels. By understanding the importance of a broader focus on communicable diseases, one gains insight into the foundational public health strategies that shape modern disease control initiatives.