The Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (IDM) is committed to training the next generation of scientists and public health professionals to enhance the control of infectious diseases in the human population.
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Holt named 2026 recipient of American Veterinary One Health Society Honorary Diplomate Award
James Holt, VMD, visiting associate professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at Pitt Public Health, has been named the 2026 recipient of the American Veterinary One Health Society Honorary Diplomate Award, which recognizes distinguished service and career contributions that advance the health of animals, people, plants and the environment through the principles of One Health.
Immunity Lost: How Pennsylvania’s falling school vaccination rates and enforcement failures put thousands of children at risk
As vaccination rates fall, the risks are rising. Researchers at the Public Health Dynamics Laboratory used simulation models to show local school vaccination levels now mirror those in parts of the country where outbreaks have already occurred. “The protection built over decades is waning,” said Peter Salk, a faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health — and even small outbreaks can have serious consequences, with roughly one death and 15 to 20 hospitalizations per 1,000 cases, according to Mark Roberts, former head of the lab.
Pitt study finds gap between tick awareness and Lyme disease concern
Researchers at Pitt’s School of Public Health surveyed homeowners across Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland counties in early 2025 to better understand how residents perceive the risks of tick exposure and tick-borne illnesses. Danielle Tufts, a disease ecologist and assistant professor of infectious diseases and microbiology, said prior experience with Lyme disease may shape how people perceive the risk.