Let me tell you the story of an outbreak that could have happened , and did n't . A year ago , a mother traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the body of her son , who had died suddenly in rural Uganda . She came in contact with many people in her travels and at the funeral . She soon died , as did the man who helped transport her and the body of her son . What could have gone on to become a major outbreak , killing many people , was stopped because health officials acted quickly . Workers in Uganda , trained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , contacted staff at the local plague laboratory . Using a rapid dipstick test , the lab quickly determined that the cause of death was pneumonic plague , one of the world 's most deadly diseases . Within 12 hours , preventive medicine was provided to more than 130 people who had come in contact with the family . The number of deaths was stopped at three . A blind spot anywhere is a risk to us everywhere . Keeping people safe is the role of public health agencies such as the CDC -- a role that becomes even more important every day . We are all connected by the air we breathe , the water we drink and the food we eat , and the next outbreak may be just a plane ride away . The world faces a perfect storm of vulnerability . On average , we identify one previously unknown microbe each year . We 're also finding that more and more infections are showing resistance to all available drugs . And the threat exists that sometime , somewhere , someone will unleash a deadly , genetically modified microbe for which we may have no warning and little preparation . Since we ca n't predict where or when the next outbreak will happen , we have to be vigilant at all times . For example , nothing has the potential to kill more people than influenza . A strain such as H7N9 could create a pandemic . When something with that much potential to cause widespread harm emerges , we must identify it in hours or days , not weeks or months . H7N9 does n't yet spread from person to person , and it may never . But when it comes to new infectious diseases , the question is not whether , but when and where . One of the most serious health issues facing us today is the fact that our antibiotic drugs do n't work as well as they used to -- or at all -- against a growing number of infections . We risk a future where simple infections can turn deadly . CDC sets threat levels for drug-resistant 'superbugs ' For a few bacteria , we 're already there . CRE , carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae , is a nightmare strain of bacteria that can resist all antibiotics , kill a high proportion of the people it infects and spread readily . We still have time to close the door on antibiotic resistance , but it means public health must collaborate with clinical medicine , both in the United States and around the world . That 's a key challenge for the next decade in many aspects of global health . Find . Stop . Prevent . This is what it takes to save lives and protect people . The steps are clear : Find out what 's harming people , figure out how to stop these harms , put programs in place to protect people by preventing these harms -- and then monitor to see if the programs are working . CDC has staff in every state of the United States and in more than 60 countries around the world . Our experts are passionate about their work and are committed to saving as many lives as possible . But you can do your part too . We can all help by not demanding antibiotics from our doctors and by taking antibiotics only and exactly as prescribed . Get smart and know when antibiotics do or do n't work . If you or a loved one is receiving care at a medical facility , ask what they are doing to prevent drug resistance . Also , ask your doctors what they are doing to protect you or your loved one from infection . Drug-resistant infections can be prevented by immunization , safe food preparation and handling , and general hand washing . Learn more at CDC.gov .
` ` The world is a perfect example of vulnerability , '' WHO director Dr. John McCarthy says . Someone could unleash a deadly , genetically engineered microbe that we ca n't fight . Nothing has the potential to kill more people than influenza , he says .