# CDC Open Data Scraper — No Login, $3.5/1k (`fortuitous_pirate/cdc-open-data-scraper`) Actor

Extract public health data from the CDC including COVID-19 cases, vaccinations, disease surveillance, mortality, and chronic disease indicators via Socrata SODA API. No login or cookies. MCP-ready for AI agents. $3.5 per 1,000 records.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/fortuitous_pirate/cdc-open-data-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Fortuitous Pirate](https://apify.com/fortuitous_pirate) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, Automation, Developer tools
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 3 total users, 2 monthly users, 96.6% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.50 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## CDC Open Data Scraper

### Overview

Access CDC public health datasets including COVID-19, disease surveillance, mortality, and chronic disease data. Query any Socrata-hosted CDC dataset with SoQL filters, or discover available datasets. No authentication required.

### Features

- Search by keywords to find specific results
- Filter results by category or type
- Export data in JSON, CSV, or Excel formats
- Control output volume with configurable result limits
- Built-in proxy support for reliable data collection

### Use Cases

- **Track** - Track federal government data releases and updates
- **Build** - Build datasets for policy research and analysis
- **Monitor** - Monitor regulatory changes and compliance requirements
- **Aggregate** - Aggregate public government data for transparency projects

### Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Description | Default |
|-----------|------|-------------|---------|
| `mode` | string **(required)** | Choose 'dataset' to query a specific CDC dataset, or 'discover' to browse all... | `dataset` |
| `datasetId` | string | Socrata dataset identifier (e.g., 'vbim-akqf' for COVID-19 cases, '8xkx-amqh'... |  |
| `appToken` | string | Optional Socrata app token for higher rate limits. Without a token you get ~1... |  |
| `whereClause` | string | SoQL WHERE filter clause. Examples: "state='CA'", "date > '2024-01-01'", "sta... |  |
| `selectFields` | string | Comma-separated field names to return. Leave empty for all fields. Example: "... |  |
| `orderBy` | string | Sort field and direction. Example: "date DESC" or "state ASC, date DESC" |  |
| `searchTerm` | string | Full text search across all fields in the dataset ($q parameter). |  |
| `maxItems` | integer | Maximum number of records to return. | `1000` |
| `proxyConfiguration` | object | Optional proxy configuration for requests. |  |

### Output Example

Each result contains structured data like this:

```json
{
  "datasetId": "ABC-12345",
  "datasetName": "CDC Open Data Sample Item",
  "scrapedAt": "2025-01-15"
}
```

### Pricing

This actor uses pay-per-result pricing:

- **$0.001** per result
- **$1.00** per 1,000 results

No monthly fees. You only pay for what you scrape. [Apify Free plan](https://apify.com/pricing) includes $5/month in platform credits.

### How to Run

#### Apify Console

1. Go to the [CDC Open Data Scraper](https://apify.com/fortuitous_pirate/cdc-open-data-scraper) actor page
2. Configure your input parameters
3. Click **Start** and wait for the results
4. Download data in JSON, CSV, or Excel format

#### API

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/fortuitous_pirate~cdc-open-data-scraper/runs?token=YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"maxItems": 10}'
```

#### Python SDK

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_API_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("fortuitous_pirate/cdc-open-data-scraper").call(
    run_input={"maxItems": 10}
)

for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)
```

### Integration

Connect CDC Open Data Scraper with your existing tools and workflows:

- **API access** - Programmatic access via [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2)
- **Webhooks** - Get notified when scraping completes
- **Scheduling** - Set up recurring runs on any schedule
- **Zapier / Make** - Connect with 5,000+ apps via [Apify integrations](https://apify.com/integrations)
- **Python / Node.js SDKs** - Native client libraries for easy integration

# Actor input Schema

## `mode` (type: `string`):

Choose 'dataset' to query a specific CDC dataset, or 'discover' to browse all available CDC datasets.

## `datasetId` (type: `string`):

Socrata dataset identifier (e.g., 'vbim-akqf' for COVID-19 cases, '8xkx-amqh' for vaccinations by county, 'bi63-dtpu' for mortality, 'g4ie-h725' for chronic disease, 'x9gk-5huc' for NNDSS weekly disease, 'y37z-bdmm' for foodborne outbreaks). Required in dataset mode.

## `appToken` (type: `string`):

Optional Socrata app token for higher rate limits. Without a token you get ~1000 requests/hour; with a token the limit is much higher.

## `whereClause` (type: `string`):

SoQL WHERE filter clause. Examples: "state='CA'", "date > '2024-01-01'", "state='NY' AND res_county='KINGS'"

## `selectFields` (type: `string`):

Comma-separated field names to return. Leave empty for all fields. Example: "state, date, new_case, new_death"

## `orderBy` (type: `string`):

Sort field and direction. Example: "date DESC" or "state ASC, date DESC"

## `searchTerm` (type: `string`):

Full text search across all fields in the dataset ($q parameter).

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of records to return.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Optional proxy configuration for requests.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "mode": "dataset",
  "datasetId": "vbim-akqf",
  "maxItems": 1000
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "mode": "dataset",
    "datasetId": "vbim-akqf",
    "maxItems": 1000
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("fortuitous_pirate/cdc-open-data-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "mode": "dataset",
    "datasetId": "vbim-akqf",
    "maxItems": 1000,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("fortuitous_pirate/cdc-open-data-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "mode": "dataset",
  "datasetId": "vbim-akqf",
  "maxItems": 1000
}' |
apify call fortuitous_pirate/cdc-open-data-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,fortuitous_pirate/cdc-open-data-scraper"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/uiLdbiHlnl0jQ2RJA/builds/MM14frlG0jhqvmiFw/openapi.json