Emerging Pathogens Institute

EPI member, Sadie Ryan, Ph.D., was featured on WJCB TV20 to discuss emerging cases of West Nile virus in Alachua County.

Click the link to learn more:

Alachua County may expect more West Nile virus cases, UF professor says TV20’s Kristin Chase sat down with University of Florida professor of medical geography Sadie Ryan to discuss emerging cases in Alachua County.

EPI member, Sadie Ryan, Ph.D., contributed her expertise with Climate Central to talk about the rise of mosquito disease days and the spread of West Nile virus throughout the U.S.

Read more the changing annual frequency of mosquito disease days in 239 major U.S. cities from 1970 to 2025: https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/mosquito-disease-days

There seems to be a new food recall every week. Tomatoes, eggs, cucumbers, deli meats — the list goes on. Why are we seeing more outbreaks from food-borne pathogens? Why are people getting sick from their groceries? Swipe through to learn more about the big three pathogens responsible for food-related hospitalizations in the United States and what to do to protect yourself from food-borne pathogens.

Read more on our website: https://go.ufl.edu/ejdw917

Yesterday was World Zoonoses Day, a day commemorating the first rabies vaccine administered on July 6, 1885. Rabies, caused by rabies virus, is a zoonotic viral disease that causes acute and severe brain swelling in humans and other mammals. The virus can spread to people and mammals through the bites and scratches of an infected, warm-blooded animal. Rabies can cause severe disease and death if patients don’t receive appropriate and urgent post-exposure treatment, also known as post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP, after rabies exposure before symptoms begin.

Read more about rabies in Florida:

Rabies in Florida: What to know » Emerging Pathogens Institute » University of Florida Florida is one of the 49 of 50 U.S. states with local rabies transmission. Rabies is an acute viral infection that is transmitted to humans by a bite or by exposure of broken skin to an infected animal's saliva. Human cases of rabies in the U.S. is rare. Recently, more cases of human rabies have bee...

Fireworks are fun…food poisoning isn’t. Here are 5 tips to avoid food-borne pathogens at your parties and barbecues this 4th of July! 🎆

In a small study in the Democratic Republic of Congo led by researchers from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 6-week-old infants with healthy gut microbiomes were less likely to contract malaria in their first year of life.

EPI members Julie Moore, Ph.D., and Connie Mulligan, Ph.D., and UF professor Christopher Dutton, Ph.D., combined their expertise to research whether a healthy gut could protect against malaria in babies.

Read more about their findings:

Healthy infant microbiomes appear to protect against malaria Healthy gut microbes in 6-week-old infants were linked to a lower risk of malaria during babies’ first year of life.

With the support of a $3.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the University of Florida and the University of Maryland are working together to develop an environmentally sensitive pathogen warning system for Vibrio species.

At UF’s Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, EPI member, Antarpreet Jutla, Ph.D., is working to ensure that all coastal denizens and inhabitants have the information they need on the dangerous waterborne bacteria.

Read more about how these researchers are developing AI-enabled tools to predict flesh-eating waterborne pathogens:

Researchers are developing AI-enabled tools to predict flesh-eating waterborne pathogens A pathogenic species of Vibrio, a naturally occurring marine bacteria found in warm coastal waters, can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening infections.

At EPI Research Day 2026, a special guest was on hand — virtually — to answer questions about research abstracts, for anyone who knew where to ask. EPI Information and Technology Manager, Ronald Scott, built a chatbot using NaviGator AI to bring the 10-foot inflatable of Pepper the Cat to life 🐈‍⬛

Read more about the development of Pepper's AI chatbot on our website: https://go.ufl.edu/9wxe1pc

While summer and vacations are approaching, it’s important to be safe and healthy while you travel. Here are ten tips to help you avoid getting sick throughout your vacations!

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