CDC

You can access CDC public health data through a single MCP server built with a TypeScript SDK. It exposes 73 datasets across 18 surveillance programs, with real-time outbreak detection, vaccination, overdose monitoring, and flexible querying. This server lets you filter, paginate, and retrieve data from authoritative sources via a consistent, easy-to-use interface.

How to use

You interact with the MCP server by using an MCP client to call predefined methods. Start with the core data listing to see what you can query, then pick a specialized method to fetch the exact data you need. Enforce rate limits by optionally providing your app token to achieve higher quotas, and use the built-in SoQL-style querying to filter results.

How to install

Prerequisites: you need Node.js installed on your machine. Verify with node -v and npm -v.

1. Clone or download the MCP server repository to your workspace.

2. Install dependencies.

3. Run the server.

Configuration and usage notes

This server provides a ready-to-run local instance via a standard Node command. You can pass an app token to enable higher rate limits.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cdc_mcp_server": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/cdc-mcp-server/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "CDC_APP_TOKEN": "your_app_token_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Notes on usage and features

The MCP server aggregates data from 73 public datasets across 18 CDC programs and provides a unified interface with 18 specialized methods. It includes real-time surveillance for notifiable diseases, county-level vaccination metrics with equity indicators, overdose tracking, and robust query capabilities with filtering and pagination.

Security and rate limiting

Rate limiting is implemented to respect API quotas. Without an app token, you share a pool with other clients; with a token, you receive higher limits (up to 1,000 requests/hour). If you obtain a token, set CDC_APP_TOKEN in the server environment.

Available tools

list_datasets

List all available datasets exposed by the CDC MCP Server.

get_places_data

Retrieve PLACES local disease prevalence data with geographic and measure filters.

get_brfss_data

Fetch BRFSS behavioral risk factor data for specified datasets and years.

search_dataset

Perform a generic, SoQL-based search across any dataset with select, where, and order clauses.

get_available_measures

List all available measures for a specific dataset to discover what you can query.

get_yrbss_data

Query Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance data by state, topic, and year.

get_respiratory_surveillance

Access combined RSV/COVID/Flu hospitalization surveillance data.

get_vaccination_coverage

Retrieve vaccination coverage data by age group, state, vaccine type, and year.

get_birth_statistics

Fetch birth-related statistics such as birth rate and outcomes by state and year.

get_environmental_health

Query environmental health data including air quality and related health measures.

get_tobacco_impact

Obtain tobacco-related mortality, morbidity, and economic impact data.

get_oral_vision_health

Survey data on oral and vision health indicators.

get_injury_surveillance

TBI and injury surveillance data by mechanism and year.

get_tobacco_policy

Track tobacco control policy implementations across policy types and geographies.

get_infectious_disease

Infectious disease surveillance data including pneumococcal, foodborne, and waterborne datasets.

get_nndss_surveillance

Real-time Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System data for numerous diseases.

get_covid_vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination data with equity metrics and geography options.

get_overdose_surveillance

Overdose surveillance with drug-specific breakdowns and provisional/finalized data.