James Hassell
Assistant Professor Adjunct of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases)Cards
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Assistant Professor Adjunct of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases)
Biography
James Hassell BVetMed MSc PhD is an epidemiologist and wildlife veterinarian with the Smithsonian's Global Health Program. His research interests focus on disease transmission between wildlife, livestock and humans in natural and urban settings in Africa, and using technological advances (both geospatial and diagnostic) to determine how transfer of pathogens between species is determined by the ecosystems they inhabit. Such evidence is crucial to securing healthier and more resilient populations of humans and animals. As a conservationist, he also works to improve the health of endangered species (including rhino and Old World vultures) and support African veterinarians through training programs in conservation medicine. He is currently enrolled in a European College of Zoological Medicine residency program in the specialty of Wildlife Population Health.
Last Updated on November 10, 2024.
Appointments
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
Assistant Professor AdjunctPrimary
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Overview
Public Health Interests
Zoonotic Diseases
ORCID
0000-0002-4710-2827
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of James Hassell's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of James Hassell's research output by year.
Dawn Zimmerman
Colin J. Carlson, PhD
44Publications
1,717Citations
Publications
2026
Reframing risk assessment for malaria elimination in a changing climate
Omumbo J, Hassell J, Siwo G. Reframing risk assessment for malaria elimination in a changing climate. Nature Reviews Microbiology 2026, 1-2. PMID: 42342965, DOI: 10.1038/s41579-026-01337-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricSystematic review and meta-analysis for the occurrence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Tularemia, and Rift Valley fever in pastoralist systems in Africa
Nyaguthii D, Hassel J, Nthiwa D, von Fricken M, Carlin E, Fava F, Ofula V, Martins D, Redding D, Koehler J, Muturi M, Fèvre E, Kimeli P, Onono J. Systematic review and meta-analysis for the occurrence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Tularemia, and Rift Valley fever in pastoralist systems in Africa. Frontiers In Veterinary Science 2026, 12: 1624748. PMID: 41988555, PMCID: PMC13076134, DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1624748.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricDetection of Wencheng shrew virus and cardiovirus from small mammals in Myanmar
Paoli J, Aung O, Lilak A, Maw M, Cleary N, Watto E, Hassell J, Win Y, Thein W, Evans T, Valitutto M, Goldstein T, Johnson C, Mazet J, Fleischer R, VanTassel N, Subramaniam K, Anderson B, von Fricken M, Mavian C, Murray S. Detection of Wencheng shrew virus and cardiovirus from small mammals in Myanmar. Scientific Reports 2026, 16: 8885. PMID: 41702980, PMCID: PMC12988138, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-38406-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricUse of Animal-Derived Products for Medicinal and Belief-Based Purposes in Urban Cities of Southwestern Nigeria: A One Health Perspective
Akpan S, Buij R, van Langevelde F, Thomas L, Sijuwola A, Ogunsanya O, van Hooft P, Adedokun O, Adeyemo A, Ayinla A, Zimmerman D, Cook E, Masudi S, Hassell J, Happi C, Happi A. Use of Animal-Derived Products for Medicinal and Belief-Based Purposes in Urban Cities of Southwestern Nigeria: A One Health Perspective. Animals 2026, 16: 502. PMID: 41681482, PMCID: PMC12896710, DOI: 10.3390/ani16030502.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsHygiene knowledge and practices in the Lagos wild meat value chain: Cultural influences, regulatory gaps, and infrastructure needs
Akpan S, Cook E, van Langevelde F, van Hooft P, Zimmerman D, Buij R, Hassell J, Masudi S, Happi C, Happi A, Thomas L. Hygiene knowledge and practices in the Lagos wild meat value chain: Cultural influences, regulatory gaps, and infrastructure needs. PLOS Global Public Health 2026, 6: e0004321. PMID: 41544141, PMCID: PMC12810893, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004321.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsMeat value chainWild meatHygiene practicesFood safetyStaple foodPublic health riskUnhygienic practicesPathogen transmissionMeatValue chainSanitary standardsHygiene knowledgeProvision of infrastructureFoodSub-Saharan AfricaInfrastructure deficitActorsGender biasPoor infrastructureSocial normsInfrastructure needsEmpirical researchQualitative study designHygienePeople's culture
2025
Correction: Leveraging deep learning models to increase the representation of nomadic pastoralists in health campaigns and demographic surveillance
Liu B, Maples S, Kong J, Fava F, Jensen N, Chelanga P, Charles S, Hassell J, Robinson L, Glowacki L, Barry M, Wild H. Correction: Leveraging deep learning models to increase the representation of nomadic pastoralists in health campaigns and demographic surveillance. PLOS Global Public Health 2025, 5: e0005757. PMID: 41474694, PMCID: PMC12755815, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005757.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPotential spillover investigated by metagenome sequencing in Laikipia, Kenya reveals tick-borne pathogens and a novel bunyavirus
Kamau M, Ergunay K, Bourke B, Mutura J, Lebunge R, Ochieng G, Gathii K, Waitumbi J, Mutai B, Hassell J, von Fricken M, Zimmerman D, Murray S, Jiang L, Liao H, Grieco J, McDermott E, Achee N, Linton Y. Potential spillover investigated by metagenome sequencing in Laikipia, Kenya reveals tick-borne pathogens and a novel bunyavirus. One Health 2025, 21: 101226. PMID: 41127630, PMCID: PMC12538091, DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101226.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsSequence independent single primer amplificationJingmen tick virusNanopore sequencingPolymerase chain reactionSingle primer amplificationViral genome segmentsMaximum likelihood analysisPolymerase chain reaction screeningPutative replicaseGenome segmentsReplication proteinsRead abundanceMetagenomic sequencingEndosymbiotic bacteriaGenomic characterizationSpecific polymerase chain reactionPrimer amplificationVirus genomeTarget amplificationGenomeGlycoprotein precursorLikelihood analysisGlobal public health threatTick-borne bacteriaTick-borne pathogensUsing the microbiota to study connectivity at human–animal interfaces
Muloi D, Caron A, Berkley J, Hassell J, Brito I, King K, Moodley A, Fèvre E. Using the microbiota to study connectivity at human–animal interfaces. Trends In Microbiology 2025, 33: 1110-1120. PMID: 40494694, DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2025.05.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMicrobiota compositional dynamicsSocial–ecological system modelComposition dynamicsHost-associated microbiotaInterspecies contactHealth risksHuman-animal interfaceHost populationsMicrobial interactionsMicrobiota changesMicrobiotaInterspecies interactionsDisease transmissionPathogen transmissionEarly-warning systemPathogensInfectious pathogensInterspeciesWildlifeInfectious disease transmissionLivestockFunctional meaningPrediction toolsHostLeveraging deep learning models to increase the representation of nomadic pastoralists in health campaigns and demographic surveillance
Liu B, Maples S, Kong J, Fava F, Jenson N, Chelanga P, Charles S, Hassell J, Robinson L, Glowacki L, Barry M, Wild H. Leveraging deep learning models to increase the representation of nomadic pastoralists in health campaigns and demographic surveillance. PLOS Global Public Health 2025, 5: e0004018. PMID: 40273062, PMCID: PMC12021161, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsA Novel Nobecovirus in an Epomophorus wahlbergi Bat from Nairobi, Kenya
VanAcker M, Ergunay K, Webala P, Kamau M, Mutura J, Lebunge R, Ochola G, Bourke B, McDermott E, Achee N, Jiang L, Grieco J, Keter E, Musanga A, Murray S, Stabach J, Craft M, Fèvre E, Linton Y, Hassell J. A Novel Nobecovirus in an Epomophorus wahlbergi Bat from Nairobi, Kenya. Viruses 2025, 17: 557. PMID: 40285000, PMCID: PMC12031378, DOI: 10.3390/v17040557.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsNear-complete genomesOpen reading frameFrequent recombination eventsGenetic exchangeGenomic regionsPhylogenetic analysisReading frameMetagenomic sequencingRecombination eventsBAT-specificAnimal virusesFecal swabsAnimal hostsBootscan analysisSpike proteinSubcladesGenomeHuman infectionsPeridomestic habitatsEast AfricaLivestock densityVirusCladeMetagenomicsGenus
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