In early January 2020, as news of a virus was emerging around the world, Brian Labus was watching intently with fascination and curiosity.
As an infectious disease epidemiologist and assistant professor in the School of Public Health, Labus was preparing to teach a graduate course in infectious disease epidemiology and place students in internships. Prior to his time at UNLV, Labus tracked hepatitis C, Legionnaires’ disease, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria during his decade-plus with public health districts. He had trained his entire career for a pandemic and was prepared like a private investigator landing a new case that unfolded all around the world, full of mysteries to be revealed.
He’s not your typical Sherlock Holmes, but that’s what makes Labus’s work compelling. Detectives have a keen eye for clues in the world around us, things others may not see. Labus is no different, gathering clues, connecting people as dots, and tracking an invisible perpetrator to devise where it may show up next.
From his first interview on Jan. 23, Labus has participated in more than 550 interviews with news organizations spanning the globe. He also authored several articles answering questions about the newly-emerging virus, amassing more than 1.1 million views. He to expand his epidemiological detective agency, telephonically crisscrossing Southern Nevada to track and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Labus said he joined UNLV because he loves teaching.
"Media interviews are a way for me to take things from the classroom into the community,” Labus said. “I enjoy explaining complicated concepts in a way that everyone can understand."
So as the “Fauci Effect” drives up medical school interest, Nevada may see its own “Labus Effect” with future epidemiologists in the making – something we will all benefit from.
Below is a sampling of stories featuring Labus’ expert insight from 2020, and you can read them all by visiting his expert page on the UNLV News Center. Additional highlights featuring expert commentary from faculty university-wide are also available in this UNLV Newsmakers 2020 roundup.
But first, what is on everyone’s minds: a new strain and vaccines on the horizon.
- – 8 News Now
- – CNBC TV 18
- – Vegas PBS
Love in the time of coronavirus
- e – Bumble
- – The Guardian
- – PopSugar
- – Yahoo! Life
- Postponed your nuptials? What COVID-19 vaccine means for your 2021 wedding – Brides
- – Huffington Post
Stay healthy and fit
- – REI Blog
- – BBC News
- Roll with it: How to cycle or – Bicycling
- , whether and – Runner’s World
- – REI Co-Op Journal
- – DMARGE
- – Las Vegas Sun
Wash up, clean up, eat up, mask up
- – The Conversation
- – The Washington Post
- – Las Vegas Review-Journal
- – Forbes France
- and the – Healthline and the Las Vegas Review-Journal
- – Parade
- – The Whiskey Wash
- A few choice words about masks – UNLV News Center
- – Popular Mechanics
- – Well + Good
Traveling
- – Boston Globe
- – Well + Good
- – Huffington Post
- – The Jerusalem Post
Entertainment and sports
- – The New York Times
- – The Daily Beast
- – Mashable
- is an example of – MSN and USA Today
- – Event Manager
- – Reno Gazette-Journal
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