New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden briefs the media on the flu epidemic of the city in Queens borough of New York, the U.S., in this file photo taken on May 15, 2009. U.S. President Barack Obama has appointed New York City Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Washington Post reported on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liu Xin) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has appointed New York City Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Washington Post reported on Saturday.

    In a statement, Obama called Frieden, 48, "an expert in preparedness and response to health emergencies" who in seven years as the city health commissioner has "been at the forefront of the fight against heart disease, cancer and obesity, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and AIDS, and in the establishment of electronic health records."

    Acting CDC Director Richard E. Besser, who has steered the agency through the current global A/H1N1 flu outbreak, will return to his role as head of the CDC's emergency response unit.

    The appointment of Frieden doesn't require Senate confirmation.

    He will take the helm of the 15,000-person, 9-billion-U.S.-dollar agency based in Atlanta, Georgia in June.

    The CDC is the country's lead agency to prevent and address health problems including infectious diseases, unhealthy lifestyles and the threat of bioterrorism.

    Frieden is known for his aggressive efforts to limit smoking in New York.