Summer isn't just the season for beach vacations and backyard BBQ's it's also the season for Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. Not sure what that is? Check out our latest blog post written by a mom with first-hand experience and tips on treating a toddler with HFMD.

The Laboratory Response Network is charged with the task of maintaining an integrated network of state and local public health, federal, military, and international laboratories that can respond to bioterrorism, chemical terrorism and other public health emergencies.

Last year CDC told you how to prepare for a zombie apocalypse (along with more realistic disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes), this year we're featuring zombie preparedness stories from across the nation.

This demonstrates how the funding CDC provides to states for public health preparedness and response is being used to protect the public's health every day. These dollars are an incredibly important way to connect the health care delivery system (e.g., hospitals and doctors offices) with public health and save on healthcare costs for everyone.

This week, CDC's Division of Strategic National Stockpile is practicing how it would respond to the release of anthrax in multiple locations across the nation. Four states - North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky - also are participating in this exercise so they, too, can test their abilities to respond.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend, as its highest priority recommendation, that people in the path of a tornado find a shelter or a tornado-safe room. The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basement. If possible, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench. If outdoors, lie down in a gully or ditch.

This time last year, storms ripped through the central and southern United States spawning more than 300 tornadoes and claiming hundreds of lives. This year we observed National Severe Weather Preparedness Week in memory of these tragic events and to encourage everyone to learn what to do when severe weather strikes.

With the 2012 Summer Olympics less than 100 days away, people around the world are preparing. Athletes are putting in their final weeks of training, London officials are getting the city ready for visitors, and spectators are making travel plans. In CDC's case, we're trying to make sure everyone's healthy for the big event.

One model approach for bringing communities together is the Meta-Leadership Summit for Preparedness. A "meta-leader" is a leader of leaders - someone who can mobilize people and organizations to collaborate in times of crisis.

Located on the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida, Sarasota County is no stranger to extreme weather and natural disasters. But as Emergency Management Chief Ed McCrane says, "You don't have to be hit by a hurricane to be impacted by one."

Questions and answers about vaccines.

The Laboratory Response Network is charged with the task of maintaining an integrated network of state and local public health, federal, military, and international laboratories that can respond to bioterrorism, chemical terrorism and other public health emergencies.

Information, tools, and resources to assist in multi-sector planning for older adults in all-hazard emergencies.

I joined 2500 runners, 500 zombies and many more spectators at the Run for Your Lives race held just outside of Atlanta in Union Point, Georgia. Proceeds from the race went to the American Red Cross and CDC set up a booth where we had the opportunity to talk with other zombie enthusiasts about how preparing for a zombie apocalypse would help them prepare for any disaster.

Schools and education agencies cannot prevent natural disasters or even many man-made crises, but they can prepare for and plan to respond to such emergencies. Resources are available to help schools, education agencies, and institutions of higher education develop such plans, usually in collaboration with public health and first responder agencies.

When there are thunderstorms in your area, turn on your radio or TV to get the latest emergency information from local authorities. Listen for announcements of a tornado watch or tornado warning.

This course focuses on the effects of explosive events and provides the latest clinical information regarding blast-related injuries from terrorism. It was developed to compliment all hazards disaster response training programs and also serve as an independent training source for emergency responders and hospital staff.

In an instant, an explosion or blast can wreck havoc; producing numerous casualties with complex, technically challenging injuries not commonly seen after natural disasters such as floods or hurricanes.

Thailand has a tropical climate with monsoon rains that come every summer. In 2011, the rains were unusually heavy, with a sequence of typhoons sweeping across southeast Asia. Regions of Thailand are now experiencing the worst floods in over fifty years, as water immerses villages, farms, and factories.

A recent review of randomized clinical trial data for the influenza neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral medications, and two related commentaries, raised questions about the value of antiviral medications for the prevention and treatment of influenza. On February 7, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted a "Have You Heard?" piece in response. The CDC response states "After careful consideration of all available evidence, CDC guidance on the use of antiviral medications remains unchanged." CDC continues to recommend the use of neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral drugs (oral oseltamivir and inhaled zanamivir) as an important adjunct in the prevention and treatment of influenza.