Virginia Pitzer, ScD
Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases)DownloadHi-Res Photo
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Co-director, Public Health Modeling Concentration
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
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Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases)
Co-director, Public Health Modeling Concentration; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Biography
Virginia (Ginny) Pitzer, joined the Yale School of Public Health as an assistant professor in 2012. She received her bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University in 2002 and a Sc.D. in Epidemiology from Harvard School of Public Health in 2007, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University and the Research and Policy for Infectious Disease Dynamics (RAPIDD) program at Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health prior to coming to Yale.
Her research focuses on mathematical and statistical modeling of the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases, including rotavirus, typhoid fever, and RSV. She studies how interventions such as vaccination, improved treatment of cases, and improvements in sanitation affect disease transmission at the population level. She has served on numerous World Health Organization advisory groups, including the Immunization and Vaccine-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (WHO IVIR-AC) and is currently Co-Editor-in-Chief for PLOS Computational Biology.
Ginny also serves as Co-Director of the Public Health Modeling concentration and as a member of the Graduate Studies Executive Committee overseeing the PhD program at Yale School of Public Health.
Last Updated on July 08, 2025.
Appointments
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- All Institutions
- Climate Change and Health
- Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
- Pitzer Lab
- Public Health Modeling
- Yale Institute for Global Health
- Yale School of Public Health
- YSPH Global Health Concentration
Education & Training
- ScD
- Harvard School of Public Health, Epidemiology (2007)
- AB
- Princeton University, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (2002)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Ecology; Global Health; Immunization; Paratyphoid Fever; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; Rotavirus; Typhoid Fever
Public Health Interests
Vaccines; Respiratory Disease/Infections; Microbial Ecology; Modeling; Infectious Diseases; COVID-19; Child/Adolescent Health; Global Health
ORCID
0000-0003-1015-2289- View Lab Website
Pitzer lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Virginia Pitzer's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Virginia Pitzer's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Virginia Pitzer is interested in exploring.
Daniel Weinberger, PhD
Ernest Asare, PhD
Joshua Warren, PhD
Deus Thindwa, PhD
Nathan Grubaugh, PhD
A. David Paltiel, MBA, PhD
67Publications
2,454Citations
Typhoid Fever
Rotavirus
Global Health
Immunization
Publications
2026
Burden of Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections among children under 5 years in Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Mwendera C, Yilma M, Wairimu C, Kering K, Mwinjiwa E, Kariuki J, Asrat D, Mekasha A, Msefula C, Kariuki S, Cornick J, Clough H, French N, Pitzer V, Jere K, Hungerford D. Burden of Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections among children under 5 years in Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Global Health 2026, 11: e018515. PMID: 41771662, PMCID: PMC12958989, DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018515.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPooled prevalenceAntimicrobial resistanceMeta-analysisEnterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infectionBurden of ShigellaSusceptibility to fluoroquinolonesAntimicrobial resistance patternsETEC-associated diarrheaResistance to several classesSystematic reviewRandom-effects modelEscherichia coliSensitive diagnostic methodVaccine introductionEnglish-language publicationsRotavirus vaccineMolecular detection methodsDisease burden estimatesGastrointestinal infectionsETECVaccine developmentDiarrhea deathsDisease burdenDiarrheaMultiple pathogensEstimating the burden of RSV- and influenza-associated ED visits, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths across age and socioeconomic groups in New York State, 2005–2019
Xu H, Pitzer V, Warren J, Shapiro E, Perniciaro S, Weinberger D. Estimating the burden of RSV- and influenza-associated ED visits, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths across age and socioeconomic groups in New York State, 2005–2019. BMC Infectious Diseases 2026, 26: 415. PMID: 41606523, PMCID: PMC12924248, DOI: 10.1186/s12879-026-12574-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntensive care unit admissionIntensive care unitED visitsSocioeconomic statusPatient ageAge groupsBurden of ED visitsAnnual incidenceRSV-associated deathsZip codesBurden of influenzaEmergency departmentMortality riskBackgroundRespiratory syncytial virusNew York StateRisk of ICU admissionLow SES groupStudy periodSevere respiratory illnessYounger age groupsOlder age groupsSyncytial virusICU admissionRisk groupsSES groupQuantifying the Impact of Switching From Rotarix to Rotavac Rotavirus Vaccine in Ghana
Asare E, Lartey B, Armah G, Pitzer V. Quantifying the Impact of Switching From Rotarix to Rotavac Rotavirus Vaccine in Ghana. Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2026, jiag003. PMID: 41499457, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiag003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric
2025
Leveraging paired serology to estimate the incidence of typhoidal Salmonella infection in the STRATAA study
Walker J, Russell P, Kermack L, Van T, Nga T, Mylona E, Camara S, Kim Y, Shrestha S, Gehlhaar A, Scott J, Khanam F, Shakya M, Thindwa D, Gordon M, Basnyat, Clemens J, Qadri F, Heyderman R, Dolecek C, Tonks S, Darton T, Pollard A, Baker S, Meiring J, Voysey M, Pitzer V, Group A. Leveraging paired serology to estimate the incidence of typhoidal Salmonella infection in the STRATAA study. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2025, 19: e0013612. PMID: 41066482, PMCID: PMC12527133, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013612.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsEnteric fever incidenceBlood culture surveillanceSalmonella infectionAntigenic targetsAge groupsStudy sitesEnteric fever casesMultiplex bead assaySalmonella serotypesPaired blood samplesConcentrations of IgG antibodiesSeroincidence estimatesSerological surveillanceSample of healthy childrenBlood culturesFever incidenceInfected participantsHealthy childrenSeroincidenceAt-risk populationsEndemic settingsBead assayPaired serologyIgG antibodiesBlood samplesUnraveling the role of viral interference in disrupting biennial RSV epidemics in northern Stockholm
Li K, Hamrin J, Nilsson A, Weinberger D, Pitzer V. Unraveling the role of viral interference in disrupting biennial RSV epidemics in northern Stockholm. Nature Communications 2025, 16: 8137. PMID: 40885786, PMCID: PMC12398580, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63654-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRespiratory syncytial virusRespiratory syncytial virus activityViral interferenceH1N1 pandemic influenza virusPandemic H1N1 virusPandemic influenza virusNorthern StockholmBiennial patternH1N1 virusInfluenza virusIn vivo studiesRespiratory virusesSyncytial virusInfluenza pandemicRSV epidemicsBirth rateInfluenzaPublic health interventionsWinter outbreaksVirusAdmission dataH1N1InfantsOlder adultsHealth interventionsHow well do disease-specific studies and WHO-CHOICE cost estimates align? Example of estimating cost per episode of diarrhoea and respiratory syncytial virus in 128 low-income and middle-income countries
Li X, Bilcke J, Asare E, Wenger C, Kwon J, Bont L, Beutels P, Pitzer V. How well do disease-specific studies and WHO-CHOICE cost estimates align? Example of estimating cost per episode of diarrhoea and respiratory syncytial virus in 128 low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Global Health 2025, 10: e016784. PMID: 40850784, PMCID: PMC12382583, DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016784.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRespiratory syncytial virusRSV-related diseaseWHO-CHOICE estimatesEpisodes of diarrheaLower middle-incomeWHO-CHOICELow-incomeUpper middle-incomeSyncytial virusRSV studiesInpatient costsMiddle-incomeDiarrhoeal diseaseEconomic evaluationCost studiesMiddle-income countriesDisease-specific diagnosisRSV-specificDisease-specific costsCost-effectiveness studiesDisease-specific studiesOutpatient costsEmpirical studiesDiarrheaCountry-specific dataInterplay between the gut microbiome and typhoid fever: insights from endemic countries and a controlled human infection model
Ashton P, Mageiros L, Meiring J, Chunga-Chirambo A, Khanam F, Dongol S, Banda H, Karkey A, Preciado-Llanes L, Thomaides-Brears H, Gibani M, Rajib N, Rahman N, Biswas P, Bhuiyan M, Kay S, Auger K, Seret O, Thomson N, Pollard A, Baker S, Basnyat B, Clemens J, Dolecek C, Dunstan S, Dougan G, Heyderman R, Pitzer V, Qadri F, Gordon M, Holt K, Darton T. Interplay between the gut microbiome and typhoid fever: insights from endemic countries and a controlled human infection model. Microbiome 2025, 13: 168. PMID: 40696437, PMCID: PMC12281769, DOI: 10.1186/s40168-025-02125-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMetabolic gene clustersShort-chain fatty acidsTyphoid fever patientsS. typhiGut microbiomeTyphoid feverShort-chain fatty acid metabolismInfection modelAsymptomatic household contactsHuman infection modelPotential functional roleGene clusterShotgun metagenomicsInvasive SalmonellaFever patientsBacterial diversityMicrobiota characteristicsAssociated with typhoid feverBackgroundTyphoid feverStool microbiomeBacterial speciesClade ADevelopment of clinical infectionSCFA metabolismIngestion of contaminated foodIntegrated Analysis of the 2022 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Lineage Replacement Dynamics in Connecticut, US
Chen N, Pham K, Chaguza C, Lopes R, Klaassen F, Kalinich C, Initiative Y, Kerantzas N, Pandya S, Ferguson D, Schulz W, Weinberger D, Pitzer V, Warren J, Grubaugh N, Hahn A. Integrated Analysis of the 2022 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Lineage Replacement Dynamics in Connecticut, US. Viruses 2025, 17: 1020. PMID: 40733636, PMCID: PMC12299087, DOI: 10.3390/v17071020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDominant lineageHost-pathogen dynamicsGenomic surveillance programsResponse to previous infectionsSequence dataVariant fitnessLineage replacementCopy numberDynamic fitness landscapesLineagesSARS-CoV-2Integrated analysisViral copy numberFitness landscapeReplacement dynamicsReproductive rateOmicron lineagesGrowth rateImmune escapeAntigen exposureVariant emergenceViral sheddingPrevious infectionEpidemiological dataInfectionExploring RSV Transmission Patterns in Different Age Groups in the United States
Li K, Pitzer V, Weinberger D. Exploring RSV Transmission Patterns in Different Age Groups in the United States. Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2025, 232: 700-708. PMID: 40308004, PMCID: PMC12455310, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaf230.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricThe Role of Viral Interference in Shaping RSV Epidemics Following the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
Li K, Thindwa D, Weinberger D, Pitzer V. The Role of Viral Interference in Shaping RSV Epidemics Following the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic. Influenza And Other Respiratory Viruses 2025, 19: e70111. PMID: 40275825, PMCID: PMC12022500, DOI: 10.1111/irv.70111.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRespiratory syncytial virusRespiratory syncytial virus activityRespiratory syncytial virus epidemicsInfluenza pandemicViral interferenceLaboratory-confirmed RSV casesRSV epidemicsDecreased RSV infectionH1N1 influenza pandemicRSV infectionRSV seasonRSV casesSyncytial virusPandemic influenzaInfluenzaRSV activityCo-InfectionSurveillance dataEpidemicUnited StatesUS regionsH1N1
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity Rotavirus vaccine impact in developing countries
01/01/2015 - 01/01/2019ResearchDetailsBangladesh; Ghana; MalawiAbstract/SynopsisWe are using a combination of statistical and mathematical modeling to predict the impact of rotavirus vaccination in developing countries, then validating our predictions against the observed impact of vaccination in Malawi and Ghana.
activity Rotavirus vaccine impact in Belgium
01/01/2013 - PresentResearchDetailsBelgiumAbstract/SynopsisIn collaboration with researchers in Belgium, we are using mathematical models to understand the impact of vaccination on the incidence and distribution of genotypes causing rotavirus gastroenteritis.
activity Typhoid fever dynamics and potential impact of vaccination
01/01/2012 - PresentResearchDetailsIndia; Malawi; Nepal +1 moreAbstract/SynopsisWe are using mathematical models to better understand epidemiological patterns in the incidence of typhoid fever, predict the potential impact of vaccination, and identify key questions for future field and laboratory studies.
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News
- March 17, 2026Source: Hartford Courant
Opinion: Vaccination is not just about personal choice in CT or elsewhere
- July 21, 2025
New YSPH Pilot Grants Support Innovative Interdisciplinary Research
- April 09, 2025
YSPH study shows viral ‘backbone’ influences rotavirus vaccine effectiveness
- February 29, 2024Source: The New York Times
Vaccines Didn’t Turn Back Mpox, Study Finds. People Did.
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Public Health Modeling Unit
Academic Office
350 George Street, Rm C311
New Haven, CT 06511