Blood samples from 483 Mongolian animal workers arrived on the UI campus this month, destined for epidemiology research labs.
A rising number zoonotic infections — viruses transmitted between animals and humans — has prompted increased research efforts at the UI.
Gregory Gray, a UI professor of epidemiology, highlighted studies conducted at the university during the College of Public Health’s annual Distinguished Faculty Lecture on Tuesday.
“Zoonotic pathogens make up 75 percent of emerging human diseases,” Gray said.
Gray, who joined the UI in 2001, has spearheaded the creation of an infectious-disease epidemiology program and the college’s Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, which he directs.
Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations. At the UI, researchers in the epidemiology department work to identify the occurrence of disease, determine risk factors, and evaluate prevention and treatment techniques.
Gray spoke specifically about his department’s research on zoonotic infections. The influenza viruses linked to pigs and birds that have caused deaths in Asia and Mexico in recent years, and rising reports of cases in the United States, have sparked an upswing in funding for research of zoonotic infections.
“These studies are very complicated,” Gray said.
As part of his research, he has traveled across the United States and around the globe. His work in Mongolia has earned him the Medal of Honor from Mongolia’s minister of Health and the Peace Medal from the president of Mongolia for research and prevention of communicable diseases.
Gray compared not having a horse in Mongolia to not having a car in the United States, noting that’s part of the reason Mongolia has the highest numbers of equine influenza virus in the world.
For the next two months Gray will help host an international colleague from Mongolia.
Ulzii Maa arrived in Iowa City eight days ago with the more than 400 samples from Mongolian animal workers, and she will work with UI researchers before returning to Mongolia on Oct. 15. Maa and UI researchers will continue to analyze the samples and track the workers over the next three years.