| Department: | Division of Environmental Health Sciences |
| Insitution: | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities |
| Minneapolis, MN |
The Division of Environmental Health Sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota has established internationally-recognized programs in foodborne disease and emerging infections research, prevention, and policy development. These programs involve collaborations across the University and with state, federal and international public health agencies. The programs address critical and emerging public health issues. Every year there are an estimated 48 million foodborne illnesses in the United States that have an economic impact of at least $50 billion. Changing demographics, methods of food production and consumption and the globalization of our food systems create a steady supply of new and emerging food safety challenges. Similarly, changing social and environmental conditions in developing countries have produced several recent infectious disease epidemics. From the emergence of mosquito-borne viruses in the Western hemisphere to the emergence of Ebola-virus in Western Africa, these epidemics present global challenges to public health control systems. Changing climates are expected to exacerbate many of these threats in the near future.