Which U.S. government agency is responsible for public health?

• A. CDC
• B. FDA
• C. NIH
• D. EPA

Answer: (B)

Public health in the United States is led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is the main federal agency focused on preventing disease, protecting the health of populations, and responding to outbreaks. It conducts surveillance to track health trends, issues guidelines for vaccination and prevention, and coordinates national public health efforts.

Other agencies have important health-related roles but in more specific areas. The FDA regulates the safety and effectiveness of foods, drugs, vaccines, and medical devices, which supports public health through product safety but isn’t the overarching public health agency. The NIH focuses on biomedical research to advance health but doesn’t run broad public health programs. The EPA addresses environmental health by regulating pollutants and protecting air and water quality, which influences public health but isn’t the sole public health agency.