Matthew Ferrari

Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics; Huck Career Development Professor; Professor of Biology

Matthew Ferrari

Research Summary

Public Health, Quantitative Epidemiology, Population Ecology, Statistics, Computational and Mathematical Biology

Huck Affiliations

Links

Most Recent Publications

Existence and stability of equilibria in infectious disease dynamics with behavioral feedback

T Berry, Matthew Ferrari, Timothy Sauer, S Greybush, D Ebeigbe, Andrew Whalen, S Schiff, 2025, Physical Review E on p. 014317

Report from the World Health Organization's immunization and vaccines-related implementation research advisory committee (IVIR-AC) ad hoc meeting, 28 June – 1 July 2024

Philipp Lambach, Sheetal Silal, Alyssa N. Sbarra, Natasha S. Crowcroft, Kurt Frey, Matt Ferrari, Emilia Vynnycky, C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Amy K. Winter, Laura Zimmerman, Mitsuki Koh, Meru Sheel, Sun Young Kim, Patrick K. Munywoki, Allison Portnoy, Rakesh Aggarwal, Habib Hasan Farooqui, Stefan Flasche, Alexandra B. Hogan, Kathy Leung, William J. Moss, Xuan Yi Wang, 2024, Vaccine

Progress Toward Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2023

Anna A. Minta, Matt Ferrari, Sebastien Antoni, Brian Lambert, Takudzwa S. Sayi, Christopher H. Hsu, Claudia Steulet, Marta Gacic-Dobo, Paul A. Rota, Mick N. Mulders, Alice Wimmer, Anindya Sekhar Bose, Patrick O. Connor, Natasha S. Crowcroft, 2024, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on p. 1036-1042

The impact of sub-national heterogeneities in demography and epidemiology on the introduction of rubella vaccination programs in Nigeria

Taishi Nakase, Tenley Brownwright, Oyeladun Okunromade, Abiodun Egwuenu, Oladipo Ogunbode, Bola Lawal, Kayode Akanbi, Gavin Grant, Orji O. Bassey, Melissa M. Coughlin, Bettina Bankamp, Ifedayo Adetifa, C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Matthew Ferrari, 2024, Vaccine

Feasibility and acceptability of collecting dried blood spots (DBS) from children after vaccination during supplementary immunization activities to estimate measles and rubella seroprevalence

Andrea C. Carcelen, Christine Prosperi, Mutinta Hamahuwa, Kelvin Kapungu, Gershom Chongwe, Francis D. Mwansa, Phillimon Ndubani, Edgar Simulundu, Innocent C. Bwalya, Kalumbu H. Matakala, Gloria Musukwa, Irene Mutale, Evans Betha, Nchimunya Chaavwa, Lombe Kampamba, Japhet Matoba, Passwell Munachoonga, Webster Mufwambi, Ken Situtu, Philip E. Thuma, Constance Sakala, Princess Kayeye, Shaun A. Truelove, Amy K. Winter, Matthew J. Ferrari, William J. Moss, Simon Mutembo, 2024, PLOS Global Public Health

Contribution of vaccination to improved survival and health: modelling 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization

Andrew J. Shattock, Helen C. Johnson, So Yoon Sim, Austin Carter, Philipp Lambach, Raymond C.W. Hutubessy, Kimberly M. Thompson, Kamran Badizadegan, Brian Lambert, Matthew J. Ferrari, Mark Jit, Han Fu, Sheetal P. Silal, Rachel A. Hounsell, Richard G. White, Jonathan F. Mosser, Katy A.M. Gaythorpe, Caroline L. Trotter, Ann Lindstrand, Katherine L. O'Brien, Naor Bar-Zeev, 2024, The Lancet on p. 2307-2316

Estimating the health effects of COVID-19-related immunisation disruptions in 112 countries during 2020–30: a modelling study

Anna Maria Hartner, Xiang Li, Susy Echeverria-Londono, Jeremy Roth, Kaja Abbas, Megan Auzenbergs, Margaret J. de Villiers, Matthew J. Ferrari, Keith Fraser, Han Fu, Timothy Hallett, Wes Hinsley, Mark Jit, Andromachi Karachaliou, Sean M. Moore, Shevanthi Nayagam, Timos Papadopoulos, T. Alex Perkins, Allison Portnoy, Quan Tran Minh, Emilia Vynnycky, Amy K. Winter, Holly Burrows, Cynthia Chen, Hannah E. Clapham, Aniruddha Deshpande, Sarah Hauryski, John Huber, Kevin Jean, Chaelin Kim, Jong Hoon Kim, Jemima Koh, Benjamin A. Lopman, Virginia E. Pitzer, Yvonne Tam, Philipp Lambach, So Yoon Sim, Kim Woodruff, Neil M. Ferguson, Caroline L. Trotter, Katy A.M. Gaythorpe, 2024, The Lancet Global Health on p. e563-e571

Modelling outbreak response impact in human vaccine-preventable diseases: A systematic review of differences in practices between collaboration types before COVID-19

James M. Azam, Xiaoxi Pang, Elisha B. Are, Juliet R.C. Pulliam, Matthew J. Ferrari, 2023, Epidemics

Population-Level Risk Factors Related to Measles Case Fatality: A Conceptual Framework Based on Expert Consultation and Literature Review

A Sbarra, M Jit, J Mosser, Matthew Ferrari, F Cutts, M Papania, K Kretsinger, K McCarthy, N Thakkar, Katy A.M. Gaythorpe, Gaythorpe KAM, D Gamage, L Krause, E Dansereau, N Crowcroft, A Portnoy, 2023, Vaccines

Estimating national-level measles case–fatality ratios in low-income and middle-income countries: an updated systematic review and modelling study

Alyssa N. Sbarra, Jonathan F. Mosser, Mark Jit, Matthew Ferrari, Rebecca E. Ramshaw, Patrick O'Connor, L. Kendall Krause, Emma L.B. Rogowski, Allison Portnoy, 2023, The Lancet Global Health on p. e516-e524

Most-Cited Papers

Estimating the health impact of vaccination against ten pathogens in 98 low-income and middle-income countries from 2000 to 2030: a modelling study

Xiang Li, Christinah Mukandavire, Zulma M. Cucunubá, Susy Echeverria Londono, Kaja Abbas, Hannah E. Clapham, Mark Jit, Hope L. Johnson, Timos Papadopoulos, Emilia Vynnycky, Marc Brisson, Emily D. Carter, Andrew Clark, Margaret J. de Villiers, Kirsten Eilertson, Matthew J. Ferrari, Ivane Gamkrelidze, Katy A.M. Gaythorpe, Nicholas C. Grassly, Timothy B. Hallett, Wes Hinsley, Michael L. Jackson, Kévin Jean, Andromachi Karachaliou, Petra Klepac, Justin Lessler, Xi Li, Sean M. Moore, Shevanthi Nayagam, Duy Manh Nguyen, Homie Razavi, Devin Razavi-Shearer, Stephen Resch, Colin Sanderson, Steven Sweet, Stephen Sy, Yvonne Tam, Hira Tanvir, Quan Minh Tran, Caroline L. Trotter, Shaun Truelove, Kevin van Zandvoort, Stéphane Verguet, Neff Walker, Amy Winter, Kim Woodruff, Neil M. Ferguson, Tini Garske, 2021, The Lancet on p. 398-408

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

James C. Glasbey, Dmitri Nepogodiev, Joana F.F. Simoes, Omar Omar, Elizabeth Li, Mary L. Venn, Mohammad K.Abou Chaar, Vita Capizzi, Daoud Chaudhry, Anant Desai, Jonathan G. Edwards, Jonathan P. Evans, Marco Fiore, Jose Flavio Videria, Samuel J. Ford, Ian Ganly, Ewen A. Griffiths, Rohan R. Gujjuri, Angelos G. Kolias, Haytham M.A. Kaafarani, Ana Minaya-Bravo, Siobhan C. McKay, Helen M. Mohan, Keith J. Roberts, Carlos San Miguel-Méndez, Peter Pockney, Richard Shaw, Neil J. Smart, Grant D. Stewart, Sudha Sundar, Raghavan Vidya, Aneel A. Bhangu, C. Allemand, L. Boccalatte, M. Figari, M. Lamm, J. Larrañaga, C. Marchitelli, F. Noll, D. Odetto, M. Perrotta, J. Saadi, L. Zamora, C. Alurralde, E. L. Caram, D. Eskinazi, J. P. Mendoza, M. Usandivaras, R. Badra, A. Esteban, 2021, Journal of Clinical Oncology on p. 66-78

Reduced vaccination and the risk of measles and other childhood infections post-Ebola

Saki Takahashi, C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Matthew J. Ferrari, William J. Moss, Shaun A. Truelove, Andrew J. Tatem, Bryan T. Grenfell, Justin Lessler, 2015, Science on p. 1240--1242

Progress Toward Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2022

A Minta, Matthew Ferrari, S Antoni, A Portnoy, A Sbarra, B Lambert, C Hatcher, C Hsu, L Ho, C Steulet, M Gacic-Dobo, P Rota, M Mulders, A Bose, W Caro, P O'Connor, Patrick O’Connor, N Crowcroft, 2023, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on p. 1262-1268

Understanding Herd Immunity

C. J.E. Metcalf, M. Ferrari, A. L. Graham, B. T. Grenfell, 2015, Trends in Immunology on p. 753-755

Estimated economic impact of vaccinations in 73 low- and middleincome countries, 2001–2020

Sachiko Ozawa, Samantha Clark, Allison Portnoy, Simrun Grewal, Meghan L. Stack, Anushua Sinha, Andrew Mirelman, Heather Franklin, Ingrid K. Friberg, Yvonne Tam, Neff Walker, Andrew Clark, Matthew Ferrari, Chutima Suraratdecha, Steven Sweet, Sue J. Goldie, Tini Garske, Michelle Li, Peter M. Hansen, Hope L. Johnson, Damian Walker, 2017, Bulletin of the World Health Organization on p. 629-638

Serology for SARS-CoV-2: Apprehensions, opportunities, and the path forward

Juliet E. Bryant, Andrew S. Azman, Matthew J. Ferrari, Benjamin F. Arnold, Maciej F. Boni, Yap Boum, Kyla Hayford, Francisco J. Luquero, Michael J. Mina, Isabel Rodriguez-Barraquer, Joseph T. Wu, Djibril Wade, Guy Vernet, Daniel T. Leung, 2020, Science immunology

Contribution of vaccination to improved survival and health: modelling 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization

Andrew J. Shattock, Helen C. Johnson, So Yoon Sim, Austin Carter, Philipp Lambach, Raymond C.W. Hutubessy, Kimberly M. Thompson, Kamran Badizadegan, Brian Lambert, Matthew J. Ferrari, Mark Jit, Han Fu, Sheetal P. Silal, Rachel A. Hounsell, Richard G. White, Jonathan F. Mosser, Katy A.M. Gaythorpe, Caroline L. Trotter, Ann Lindstrand, Katherine L. O'Brien, Naor Bar-Zeev, 2024, The Lancet on p. 2307-2316

Progress toward regional measles elimination - worldwide, 2000-2020

Meredith G. Dixon, Matt Ferrari, Sebastien Antoni, Xi Li, Allison Portnoy, Brian Lambert, Sarah Hauryski, Cynthia Hatcher, Yoann Nedelec, Minal Patel, James P. Alexander, Claudia Steulet, Marta Gacic-Dobo, Paul A. Rota, Mick N. Mulders, Anindya S. Bose, Alexander Rosewell, Katrina Kretsinger, Natasha S. Crowcroft, 2021, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on p. 1563-1569

Mapping vaccination coverage to explore the effects of delivery mechanisms and inform vaccination strategies

C. Edson Utazi, Julia Thorley, Victor A. Alegana, Matthew J. Ferrari, Saki Takahashi, C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Justin Lessler, Felicity T. Cutts, Andrew J. Tatem, 2019, Nature Communications on p. 1633

News Articles Featuring Matthew Ferrari

Apr 10, 2025

Penn State experts weigh in on measles outbreak, vaccines

What was once considered a disease of the past has now made a troubling return in the United States.

Full Article

Feb 26, 2025

All Things Considered

This radio segment quotes Matthew Ferrari, professor of biology and director of Penn State's Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics.

Full Article

Feb 25, 2025

As Measles Cases Surge in Texas, WHO’s Global Control Program Risks Collapse

The World Health Organization has warned that its largest global laboratory network is on the brink of collapse unless new funding is secured to replace the support lost after President Donald Trump’s order to withdraw from the United Nations agency.

Full Article

Dec 10, 2024

WHO recommends universal introduction for rubella vaccination

Global policy change, influenced in part by research led by Penn State scientists, removes barriers for countries that have yet to introduce rubella vaccination.

Full Article

Oct 05, 2024

A new Pitt study shows COVID-19 peaks every 6 months

While coronavirus cases predictably tick upward each year as colder months approach, new evidence from the University of Pittsburgh has turned what we know about infectious diseases on its head — COVID-19 also peaks every six months.

Full Article

Jun 06, 2024

A Man in Mexico Died With One Form of Bird Flu, but US Officials Remain Focused on Another

Experts say the mysterious death of a man in Mexico who had one kind of bird flu is unrelated to outbreaks of another bird flu at U.S. dairy farms.

Full Article

May 29, 2024

Local disparities may prevent national vaccination efforts for rubella

When public health officials make policies about when and how vaccination programs are implemented, they must weigh the benefits and risks of how infectious diseases spread throughout the country. However, these analyses are often based on national-level data and, in some countries, may overlook nuances at the local level.

Full Article

May 23, 2024

UGA, Penn State research team to develop new model to predict measles outbreaks

A research team led by faculty at the University of Georgia and Pennsylvania State University has received a $583,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a new model to predict measles outbreaks worldwide.

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Mar 13, 2024

The Return of Measles

Measles seems poised to make a comeback in America

Full Article

Feb 20, 2024

Measles cases rose 79% globally last year, WHO says. Experts explain why.

The World Health Organization is warning about the rapid spread of measles around the world, noting a 79% increase from 2022, with more than 306,000 cases reported last year

Full Article

Feb 01, 2024

The Monster Measles Outbreak in Europe Is a Warning

The Measles outbreak exposes gaps in vaccination coverage and in the health system that other diseases may soon follow

Full Article

Nov 16, 2023

Q&A: Modeling measles amidst a global disruption in vaccine supplies

According to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published Nov. 17 in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a drop in vaccination coverage led to a 72% increase in reported measles cases and a 43% increase in measles deaths during 2021-22.

Full Article

Jun 06, 2023

Heard on Campus: Martha Nelson on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in deer

“There don’t appear to be evolutionary adaptations required for human SARS-CoV-2 virus to transmit in deer so far,” said Eberly College of Science alumna Martha Nelson, reflecting on her past two years of work as a staff scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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May 15, 2023

Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics hosts infectious disease conference

The Penn State Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics (CIDD) will welcome 350 scientists from around the globe to discuss parasites and pathogens affecting plants, animals and humans, as part of the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease conference.

Full Article

Dec 30, 2022

Why Scientists Are Concerned About The Re-Emergence Of One Of The World’s Deadliest Diseases

I mean, I would assume that anyone would be concerned about a deadly disease finding its way back to the surface, but measles in particular is really causing concern. One of the biggest reasons for this is that the world is seeing a sharp decline in child vaccination rates, and the timing couldn’t be worse.

Full Article

Dec 01, 2022

Nearly 40 million children are dangerously susceptible as measles threat grows

Measles vaccination coverage has steadily declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published on Nov. 23 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several university researchers, including Matthew Ferrari, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Penn State.

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Nov 11, 2022

Penn State community grieves loss of biomathematician Howard Weiss

Howard Weiss, professor of biology and mathematics at Penn State, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 5 at the age of 64.

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May 27, 2022

Take Note: Penn State infectious disease expert Matthew Ferrari on the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022

COVID-19 cases are climbing again in Pennsylvania and nationally. And so are hospitalizations. Matthew Ferrari, director of Penn State’s Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, is also part of the research project Data4Action, which has been measuring the impact of the pandemic on the local community for the last two years. WPSU's Anne Danahy spoke with Ferrari about the current upswing in COVID cases, how to understand the data and steps that can be taken in response.

Full Article

Mar 15, 2022

Rise in COVID-19 infections overseas may foreshadow increase in US, experts say

When the coronavirus receded across much of the globe last month and the omicron surge declined, many Americans were hopeful that was perhaps the signal that the United States was entering a new phase of the pandemic.

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Mar 15, 2022

Rise in COVID cases abroad, presence of omicron subvariant may foreshadow increase in US: Experts

Wastewater data in the U.S. indicates the beginnings of a potential resurgence.

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Feb 21, 2022

What’s the true covid death toll in Pa.? New analysis sheds light

For many reasons, it’s hard to know the full impact of the covid-19 pandemic. Some deaths may have gone uncounted for reasons such as the person died at home and was never tested. A person may have died from an existing disease exacerbated by covid-19. Or a person may have died from a more indirect result of the pandemic, such as disruption in drug treatment that led to overdose.

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Jan 24, 2022

How Centre County school districts are adapting as omicron challenges in-person learning

Unlike last school year, Centre County school districts have avoided a shift to remote learning, and despite the rise of COVID-19 cases, they plan to keep it that way.

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Dec 19, 2021

Europe gives US gloomy portrait of what's to come with omicron

As the omicron variant batters Europe with exponentially skyrocketing COVID-19 cases, public health experts warn that the U.S. could be barreling down the same path and face record waves of infections in the coming days and weeks.

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Dec 10, 2021

What omicron's fast spread could mean for the U.S. – and the world

The first country to really get hit by omicron is South Africa. Before the new variant took off last month, coronavirus cases there were low – only several hundred per day in mid November. But by early December, the tally of daily infections had shot up to more than 4,500 — and genomic sequencing shows that omicron is to blame.

Full Article

Dec 02, 2021

Should I be worried about the new omicron coronavirus variant?

The omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of SARS-CoV-2, which has now been detected in the U.S., has been listed as a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization, which has stated that the overall global risk related to the variant is "very high."

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