Health Protection and Disease Prevention

The Office of Public Health is committed to protecting health and preventing diseases in national parks through the Health Protection and Disease Prevention focus area which is comprised of two branches within the Office of Public Health: the Epidemiology Branch and the Field Services Branch. Each branch is made up of highly skilled public health professionals assigned to the National Park Service by the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Through the work of the Epidemiology Branch and Field Services Branch, U.S. Public Health Service Officers effectively identify, reduce and/or eliminate public health hazards and potential disease threats in parks. Explore the information below and learn more about the work we do to ensure the health of animals, the environment and people in national parks!