The CDC’s Gruesome “Trading Cards”
Posted by Rachel on June 29, 2007
On its “Kids Page,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers up a set of Infectious Diseases Trading Cards. No joke. What did the CDC feature on these cards, you ask? A zebra dead of anthrax. Skin affected by an ulcer, and a staph infection. An open mouth affected by diptheria. A taped up baby with tetanus. For kids. To trade around. Well, at least they’re educational (click image to enlarge).
Update: Guess I was wrong – others didn’t find the dead zebra et al as, well, gross as I did. The CDC has added a 3rd set of cards since this post went up, with some cool science-y images, like several types of viruses. I think I forgot momentarily how appealing gross can be. And I find dead animal photos to be a real turn-off. 
Sara said
*I* think that’s cool.
Rachel said
Sara,
Honestly, I think they’re kind of cool, too. The anthrax-dead zebra put me off of them, though, especially for the wee ones.
Vol Abroad said
i did not kniw that 30% of those who get tetanus die – I’ll keep up with my boosters now
Slartibartfast said
My inner 10 year old boy loves this.
My actual 10 year old boy loves this.
My actual 9 year old girl loves it even more.
Rachel said
Slarti,
Guess I was wrong, then! They are kind of neat and educational, some of them just seemed gross to me. I bet that’s why the kids like them, though!
Heather said
Are they any worse than the Garbage Pail kids we traded when younger?
Rachel said
Heather – You’re absolutely right! That brings back some memories!