Read the excerpt from the supporting text "disease central" in when birds get flu by john diconsiglio. in 1958, scientists at the cdc made their first trip overseas. a team went to southeast asia to respond to an epidemic of smallpox and cholera. the author uses this passage to the reader focus on why dr. dowell is in thailand. why epidemics are dangerous. why scientists work for the cdc. why the cdc was formed.