CDC’s Mysterious Text File Containing Bizarre Word List Raises Questions

A peculiar text file discovered on the CDC’s website has sparked curiosity and confusion online. The file, which appears to have existed since 2009, contains an extensive list of seemingly random and often inappropriate words that many find surprising to see on a government website.

Key Findings About the CDC Text File

The text file was discovered and shared by a social media user named “charlie” on X (formerly Twitter), who stumbled upon it accidentally. The file contains thousands of words ranging from medical terminology to slang, offensive language, and bizarre terms with no apparent connection to public health.

Among the words found in the list are:

Medical terms like “CAPILLARIES,” “BLOODLINES,” and “TUBERCULIDE”
Casual slang such as “GOOFBALL” and “WHOMPS”
Disturbing terms including “WHORES” and “TORTURED”
Unusual words like “COUNTERREVOLUTIONARIES,” “SWORDPLAY,” and “NECROMANCY”
Various racial and antisemitic slurs

Possible Explanations

Based on the URL path, the file appears to be related to the CDC’s Mortality Medical Data System (MMDS), a program developed in 1967 to automate the processing of death certificate information. The subdirectory “spell” suggests it might be a spell-check dictionary for the system.

However, this explanation doesn’t fully account for the inclusion of offensive slurs, archaic terms, and words that would have no place in official death certificate documentation.

Public Reaction

Social media users responded with a mix of humor and concern. One user compared it to “using a ouija board and the unabomber was on the other side,” while another joked that “First three words you see will define your 2026.”

At the time of the original article’s publication, the CDC had not responded to requests for comment about the purpose of the file or why it contains such an eclectic and sometimes offensive collection of words.

The file remains accessible on the CDC website, where it has apparently resided unnoticed for over a decade until this recent discovery brought it to public attention.