Division of Viral Diseases (DVD)
On This Page
Our Mission
The Division of Viral Diseases’ (DVD) mission is to prevent disease, disability, and death from viral diseases through immunization and other prevention measures.
Our Objectives
DVD’s objectives are to
- Optimize the safe, efficient, and effective use of vaccines and other known ways to prevent viral diseases
- Identify, characterize, and evaluate new ways to prevent viral diseases
- Effectively and efficiently respond to outbreaks of respiratory and enteric viral disease
- Improve local, state, and global capacity to prevent disease and respond to outbreaks caused by respiratory and enteric viruses
- Attract, train, and retain the best leaders, managers, and scientists
What We Do
- Conduct and provide scientific consultation for viral disease outbreak investigations and responses
- Build and support viral disease detection and reporting capacity
- Conduct and support epidemiological and laboratory research to prevent and control diseases and syndromes caused by viruses
- Provide scientific leadership for evidence-based decision making on the use of viral vaccines and other prevention measures
- Communicate evidence-based findings including prevention strategies for viral diseases and syndromes
Our Organization
As of February 2024, DVD leadership and branch structure are as follows:
Office of the Director
- Steve Oberste – (Acting) Director
- Thomas Clark – Deputy Division Director
- Mark Sotir – Associate Director for Science
- April Allman – Associate Director of Program Management
Viral Gastroenteritis Branch
- Umesh Parashar – Branch Chief
Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory Branch
- Cara Burns – Branch Chief
Viral Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch
- Paul Rota – Branch Chief
Division Topics
- Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)
- Adenovirus
- B Virus
- Chickenpox (Varicella)
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Epstein-Barr (EBV)/Infectious Mononucleosis
- Global Measles and Rubella
- Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Measles
- Mumps
- Norovirus
- Parvovirus B19 and Fifth Disease
- Picornaviruses
- Polio
- Rotavirus
- Rubella
- Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
- Viral Meningitis
- Viral Pneumonia