Academic Research
My research interests lie at the intersection of geography, epidemiology, and public health, with a particular focus on understanding the spatial dynamics of infectious diseases. I have a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration and a commitment to addressing pressing health challenges through my work. Practically, I seek to unravel the complex interactions between human populations, environmental factors, and disease transmission by employing statistical modeling techniques and geographic information systems (GIS) to map and analyze patterns and drivers of disease spread. My expertise extends to a wide range of infectious diseases, yet with a primary emphasis on vector-borne illnesses. The ultimate aim is to inform effective strategies for disease control and prevention at a variety of scales. Please see a selection of publications below, or visit my Google Scholar profile.
Selected Publications
Messina, J.P. and Wint, G.R.W. (2023) The spatial distribution of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever and its potential vectors in Europe and beyond. Insects 14(9): 771.
Li, S. et al. (incl. Messina, J.P. senior author) (2023) The Brazilian COVID-19 vaccination campaign: A modelling analysis of socio-demographic factors on uptake. BMJ Open (in press).
Lemyre, A. and Messina, J.P. (2023) Greenspace use during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal population mobility study in the United Kingdom. Environmental Research 239:117360.
Dam, R. et al. (incl. Messina, J.P.). (2023) What incentives encourage local communities to collect and upload mosquito sound data by using smartphones? A mixed methods study in Tanzania. Global Health Research and Policy.
Li, S.L. et al. (incl. Messina, J.P. senior author) (2022) Mapping environmental suitability of Haemagogus and Sabethes spp. mosquitoes to understand sylvatic transmission risk of yellow fever virus in Brazil. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 16(1):e0010019.
Olson, M.F., Juarez, J.G., Kraemer, M.U.G., Messina, J.P., Hamer, G.L. (2021) Global patterns of aegyptism without arbovirus. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 15(5):e0009397.
Li, S.L. et al. (Messina, J.P. senior author) (2021) Higher risk of death from COVID-19 in low-income and non-White populations of São Paulo, Brazil. BMJ Global Health 6:e004959.
Messina, J.P., Brady, O.J., Golding, N., Kraemer, M.U.G. et al. (2019) The current and future global distribution and population at risk of dengue. Nature Microbiology 4:1508–1515.
Kraemer, M.U.G., Reiner Jr., R.C., Brady, O.J., Messina, J.P. et al. (2019). Past and future spread of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Nature Microbiology 4: 854-863.
Pigott, D.M., Deshpande, A., Reiner Jr., R.C., Kraemer, M.U.G., Bogoch, I., Khan, K., Earl, L., Letourneau, I., Morozoff, C., Messina, J.P., et al. (2017). Local, national and regional viral haemorrhagic fever pandemic potential in Africa. Lancet 390 (10113), 2662-2672.
Messina, J.P., Kraemer, M.U.G., Brady, O.J., et al. (2016). Mapping global environmental suitability for Zika virus. eLife 10.7554/eLife.15272.
Messina, J.P., Pigott, D.M., Golding, N., et al. (2015) The global distribution of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 109:1-11.
Kraemer, M.U.G., et al. (incl. Messina, J.P.) (2015) The global distribution of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. eLife, doi: 10.7554/eLife.08347
Rao, V.B., Johari, N., du Cros, P., Messina, J.P., et al. (2015) Hepatitis C seroprevalence and HIV co-infection in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Infectious Diseases 15(7):819-824.
Jaenisch, T., Junghanss, T., Wills, B., Brady, O.J., Eckerle, I., Farlow, A., Hay, S.I., McCall, P.J., Messina, J.P., et al. (2014). Dengue expansion in Africa – not recognized or not happening? Emerging Infectious Diseases, 20(10).
Pigott, D.M., Bhatt, S., Golding, N., Duda, K.A., Battle, K.E., Brady, O.J., Messina, J.P., et al. (2014). Global distribution maps of the Leishmaniases. eLife 10.7554/eLife.02851.
Messina, J.P., Humphreys, I., Flaxman, A., et al. (2015). The global distribution and prevalence of HCV genotypes. Hepatology 61(1):77-87.
Messina, J.P., Brady, O.J., Zhou, C., et al. (2014). The global spread of dengue virus types: mapping the 70-year record. Trends in Microbiology 22(3): 138-146.
Messina, J.P., Mwandagalirwa, K., Taylor, S.M., et al. (2013) Spatial and social factors drive anemia in Congolese women. Health and Place 24C: 54-64.
Bhatt, S. Gething, P.W., Brady, O.J., Messina, J.P., et al. (2013) The global distribution and burden of dengue. Nature 496: 504-507.
Brady, O.J., Gething, P.W., Bhatt, S., Messina, J.P., et al. (2012) Refining the global spatial limits of dengue virus transmission by evidence-based consensus. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 6(8):e1760.
Wu, X., Tucker, J.D., Hong, F., Messina, J.P., et al. (2012) Multilevel and spatial analysis of syphilis in Shenzhen, China, to inform spatially targeted control measures. Sexually Transmitted Infections 88(5): 325-329.
Mumba, D., Bohorquez, E., Messina, J., et al. (2011) Prevalence of Human African Trypanosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 5(8):e1246.
Messina, J.P., Taylor, S.M., Meshnick, S.R., et al. (2011) Population, behavioral and environmental drivers of malaria prevalence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Malaria Journal 10:161.
Tan, N., Messina, J., Yang, L., et al. A spatial analysis of county-level variation in syphilis and gonorrhea in Guangdong Province, China. PLoS One 6(5): e19648.
Messina, J.P., Brown, W., Amore, G., et al. (2011) West Nile virus in the greater Chicago area: a geographic examination of human illness and risk from 2002-2006. URISA Journal 23: 5-18.
Messina, J.P.; Taylor, S.M.; Hand, C.C.; et al. (2011) Measurement of malaria in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by molecular analyses of leftover dried blood spots from the 2007 demographic health survey. The Lancet (published abstract).
Taylor, S.M., Messina, J.P., Hand, C.C., et al. (2011) Molecular malaria epidemiology: mapping and burden estimates for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2007. PLoS One 6(1): e16420.
Messina, J.P., Emch, M., Muwonga, J., et al. (2010) Spatial and socio-behavioral patterns of HIV prevalence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Social Science and Medicine 71(8): 1428-1435.
Ruiz, M.O., DeBaene, K., Messina, J.P., et al. (2008) Mosquitoes, catch basins, hydrology, and risk of West Nile virus in Illinois. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 79(66): 321-322.