Welcome,

          Over spring break, I visited the David J. Spencer CDC Museum with two of my friends (not in the class) who also want to explore the various exhibits that they have. I can say the experience started with quite an excitement. Right as you enter the campus, two security officers approach your car asking several questions. I answered them, and I thought I could go on my merry way through the gate, but to my surprise, we were told everyone needs to exit the car, open all car doors, pop the hood (totally forgot where that was) and trunk. That was a nerve-racking experience for sure. But once we entered the museum and went through another security checkpoint, the first visit was to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic exhibit located right in the lobby. The 1918 Influenza Pandemic exhibit had a whole room dedicate to itself filled with various black and white photos of people wearing anti-influenza mask and information about the epidemic. Then on the main floor contains exciting information about numerous public health topics. Finally, the lower level contains exhibits about the many infectious diseases and that where I found my microbe.

          Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The reason I choose tuberculosis is that on the exhibit it states that “TB has come back in a more deadly form due to drug-resistant strains of the disease” encourage me to do more research on the microbe that is causing TB and what are the strains of this disease. 

          Also, the TB exhibit was very minimalist and did not contain much information about the disease and the microbe to which I want to learn more about. However, the TB exhibit did display the way that they communicate with people to spread awareness about TB. For example, there was a collection of slides from the Neighborhood Disease Control Self- Help Kit that illustrates how TB is spread, symptoms of TB such as coughing and how to prevent contracting TB. There was also this photograph of healthcare workers looking for an indication of TB in an x-ray which was interesting. After researching on my own, I learned that a total of 1.6 million people died from TB in 2017 and it is one of the top 10 causes of death. To make it more interesting, I had to get a TB skin test (TST) myself for volunteering, and that convinces me to choose Mycobacterium tuberculosis as my microbe, and I am excited to learn more about it.

This is the TB exhibit at the CDC Museum. On the left is the collection of illustrations that demonstrates the symptoms and preventions of TB. The top right is a comic book produced by the American Lung Association to reach out to Hispanic citizens to encourage screening, treatment, and healthy habits. On the bottom right, two healthcare workers looking at an x-ray.