NPS Public Health Program

With almost 400 National Park Service (NPS) sites and hundreds of millions of visits per year, a large potential exists for exposure to disease agents within the U.S. Department of Interior's National Park Service (NPS) system.

The NPS Office of Public Health (OPH) is an internal agency-specific public health capability, managed, funded and operated by NPS.  This program is primarily staffed with commissioned officers on detail to the agency from the United States Public Health Service and is a national activity headquartered in Washington, DC with field staff located across the NPS system.

Through disease surveillance and response, on-site evaluation/hazard analysis, consultation, policy guidance, and coordination with local, state and other federal health jurisdictions, OPH professionals assist park superintendents to protect and promote visitor health in the frontcountry and backcountry/wilderness.