IDM News
The dirty truth about houseflies and their health risks
Unlike mosquitoes, flies don’t bite to transmit disease. Instead, they act more like tiny, mobile contamination units. Joshua Mattila, an assistant professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, described the process in simple — if unsettling — terms. “They land on things, they taste things, and can carry pathogens on their feet and wings and body,” he said.
Vietnam HIV stigma project offers lessons for the U.S.
Despite significant progress in HIV prevention and treatment, infections are rising among key populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM), and stigma in health care settings remains a major barrier to prevention, treatment and care. A new project led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health aims to address this challenge through a culturally tailored intervention in Vietnam that could offer a scalable model for reducing HIV stigma globally.
Staff awards: Schuetz’s work in community a tribute to her father
“It’s been part of my life since childhood,” says IDM's Erin Schuetz, who earned a Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award for Staff in community engagement. She credits her father, Fred, who served on numerous boards, as an early influence. “My dad was what I call a quiet leader. When something needed to be done, he would just be there. People say, ‘Someone should do something,’ and he would remind me, ‘You are someone, and you can do something.’”
Pitt Public Health faculty study hepatitis B–liver cancer connection
Liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer globally, primarily occurring as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions, chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection persists as a critical public health challenge and a primary driver of HCC cases. To improve HBV drug targets and predict disease severity, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health’s Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, led by Jeremy Martinson, PhD, collaborated with an international team to examine region-specific genetic factors influencing HBV progression.
Ticks are the backyard threat southwestern Pennsylvania homeowners keep ignoring
Ticks may be in the backyard, but many southwestern Pennsylvania residents don’t see themselves at risk, according to IDM’s Danielle Tufts and Emily Bache in a piece for The Conversation.
From summer scholar to published author
Public Health Undergraduate Scholars Program (PHUSP) 2024 graduate Vivian Thai co-authored and published a commentary with her PHUSP mentor, Toan Ha, MD, DrPH, assistant professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at Pitt Public Health. The article, “Beyond the Counter: The Case for Emergency Contraception Vending Machines on College Campuses,” explores how vending machines could help address barriers that often prevent students from accessing emergency contraception when they need it most.
From dual undergrad degrees to doctoral candidate
Mae Horne, doctoral student in infectious diseases and microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, conducts research in the Silva Laboratory at the Rangos Research Center at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Her work focuses on how chikungunya virus, a re-emerging mosquito-borne pathogen, attaches to and enters human cells. A central question guiding her work is why certain viral strains cause more severe disease than others.
New laboratory models reveal how Oropouche virus affects brain cells
Research conducted in the laboratory of Amy Hartman, PhD, associate professor of infectious diseases and microbiology, and published in PLoS Pathogens, sheds light on why a mosquito-borne virus has been linked to serious neurological problems during an ongoing outbreak in South and Central America.
Study will investigate suicide-related stressors facing Pennsylvania farmers
The University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health is launching a new study—funded by the Poultry and Livestock Center of Excellence—to investigate mental health challenges facing Pennsylvania’s poultry and swine farmers, including challenges exacerbated by infectious disease outbreaks and related disruptions. The exploratory project will examine the factors contributing to depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation within this essential workforce.
Deciphering D: A mysterious influenza strain infects livestock around the world
Influenza D virus, known in shorthand as IDV or flu D, has several of the worrisome features of influenza A: It occurs around the world, infects multiple species, and is fond of reassorting. “It is demonstrating all the hallmarks of an emerging pathogen for both animals and humans,” says Suresh Kuchipudi, chair of Pitt Public Health's Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology.
Shapiro administration invests $2.2 million in research to keep Pennsylvania agriculture growing and leading the nation
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced a $2.2 million investment in 17 research grants to help agriculture continue to grow throughout the Commonwealth to and keep pace with changing technology, climate, emerging diseases and marketplace demands. The funding includes nearly $70,000 to Pitt Public Health for its project, One Health Surveillance of Novel Cattle Flu Virus at the Animal-Human Interface.
One Health, Across Continents
Pitt Public Health recently welcomed two internationally recognized One Health leaders to campus to explore opportunities for collaboration across continents.
Pitt Public Health's Erin Schuetz receives Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award
Erin Schuetz, academic & student affairs administrator in the Department of Infectious Diseases & Microbiology, has been honored with the 2025 Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award for Staff. These annual accolades recognize employees whose work demonstrates exceptional dedication to the University community and reflects Pitt’s spirit of possibility.
Of mice and humans: What to know about the diseases mice can spread in the region
Danielle Tufts, an assistant professor of infectious diseases and microbiology and immunology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, says that simply seeing a mouse does not mean disease transmission is imminent or likely. But risk does increase with prolonged exposure, improper cleanup of droppings or nests, and contact with ticks that rely on mice as hosts.