Publications

The field of disease ecology has mainly focused on host-parasite interactions as an isolated relationship, but ongoing research continues to find that predators play an important role in these interactions. In the past, predation was thought to reduce disease in populations of prey, known as the “healthy herds hypothesis”. Now, […]

Since the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic began, there has been an extreme strain on hospitals and medical professionals and many lives have been impacted. Two main intervention methods have been implemented to reduce the spread and severity of SARS-CoV-2: vaccination and non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as social distancing, quarantining, and hygienic measures.Periodic surges […]

As the world continues to become more connected through travel, technology, and infrastructure, it is becoming  easier for transmissible diseases to spread across countries rapidly. Controlling the spread of disease at the local level is highly difficult and the majority of the world is not prepared to combat outbreaks.  An […]

The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in December of 2019, was the beginning of a public health crisis. With limited information on the transmission and spatial spread of the virus at the onset of the outbreak, public health officials were faced with many difficult decisions on how to proceed.  Infectious […]

Influenza A viruses, specifically highly contagious avian influenza viruses, pose many risks to certain avian species, the agricultural industry, and public health. Humans can be infected with the virus by coming in contact with infected birds or their surrounding environments. Influenza A viruses (IAV) threaten poultry production in the United […]

The Impact of Deforestation on Transmission of Disease to Humans By: Brenna Daly The environmental changes caused by deforestation have significant effects on wildlife communities and alter how humans and wildlife interact. These changes in the environment contribute to increased human health risk, specifically from zoonotic spillover potential (the transmission […]

Honey bees serve as an immense agricultural and economic source of influence, providing honey and vital pollination services. However, honey bees are also prone to disease and parasitic infection, which has contributed to their decline in recent years, along with pesticide use and nutritional stress. Controlling varroa mites and similar […]

Mosquitoes pose a significant threat to human health as vectors for diseases such as malaria, dengue and many other life-threatening illnesses. Because of their potential to cause significant health issues, researchers are continuously studying how mosquitoes disseminate disease and what factors could put someone more at risk of coming into […]

Infections from helminths, also known as parasitic worms, can result in a health burden on the host species and pose significant ecological consequences. Understanding the dynamics behind parasite transmission, including possible environmental conditions that may play a role, is vital to understanding disease transmission more broadly. Mole crabs are affected […]

When humans alter the natural landscape, it increases the risk of zoonotic spillover, which is when a disease jumps from wildlife to humans. Disease spillover can be dangerous because it introduces novel illnesses that may be difficult to control or treat in human populations. These disease spillover events can occur […]