Researcher Profile

My research focuses on emerging infectious diseases including pathogen with pandemic threat such as avian influenza virus and Nipah virus. I have been leading avian influenza virus surveillance at animal human interface and actively engaged in hospital based influenza and Nipah surveillance in Bangladesh. As a part of pandemic preparedness, my work also focuses on nosocomial transmission of emerging pathogens through developing a comprehensive model for infection control in low income hospitals. I have been trained in investigating disease outbreaks using one health approach and keen in learning novel statistical tools and techniques for predicting, assessing, and controlling potential outbreaks.

Another area of my research is to understand the burden and transmission dynamics of respiratory infections both in community and in hospital settings in order to inform intervention to control their spread. My interest lies in understanding the complex interrelationship between early childhood infections and chronic respiratory conditions and the role of host and environmental factors.

Selected publications include:

• Hassan MZ, Sazzad H, Luby SP, Sturm-Ramirez K, Bhuiyan M, Rahman M, Stroeher U, Sultana S, Gurley E.S. Nipah Virus Contamination of Hospital Surfaces during Outbreaks, Bangladesh, 2013–2014. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018;24(1):15-21. https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2401.161758
• Hassan MZ, Nadia AR, Fahad MH, Sultana R, Mortaza SMG, Mahmud AA, Islam MA, Amin N, Rahman MZ, Sturm-Ramirez K. Exploring the effectiveness, acceptability and feasibility of hand washing with soapy water for removal of influenza viruses from poultry workers' hands in a Bangladeshi live bird market. Proceeding of the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2018. August 26-29, 2018. Atlanta, Georgia, USA
• Hassan MZ, Chowdhury F, Sturm-Ramirez K, Hossain MK, Bhuiyan MU, Rahman MZ, Haque R, Alam M, Burgess S, Petri WA,Iuliano AD, Gurley ES. Respiratory virus associated with wheezing in early life: a birth cohort study in a low-income urban community in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Proceeding of 66th annual meeting of American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). November 5-9, 2017, Baltimore, USA
• Hassan MZ, Afreen S, Nasreen S, Mamun AA, Rahman MZ, Rahman M, Luby SP, kafi MAH, Chowdhury S, Azim T, Iuliano AD, Uyeki TM, Rahman M, Sturm-Ramirez K. Incidence and correlates of avian influenza virus RNA detection among a cohort of live bird market poultry workers, Bangladesh: 2012-2015. Proceeding of the Options IX for control of influenza conference. August 24-28, 2016, Chicago, USA
• Hassan MZ, Sturm-Ramirez K, Sazzad H.M, M.U. Bhuiyan, Rahman , Rahman MZ, Stroeher U, Sultana S, Gurley E.S. Shedding of Nipah Virus and Contamination of Hospital Surfaces during an Outbreak in Bangladesh, 2013-2014. Proceeding of the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2015. August 24-26, 2015. Atlanta, Georgia, USA