These experts from the UW–Madison faculty and staff have agreed to comment on breaking news, ongoing developments and trends in their areas of expertise. If you need help arranging interviews, email the Office of Strategic Communication.
Experts on the news
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Laura Knoll on: Growing Cyclospora Outbreak
With more than 17,000 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis reported across the U.S. this year, including hundreds of hospitalizations and two deaths, health officials are continuing to investigate the rise in infections. Laura Knoll, professor of medical microbiology and immunology at UW Madison, studies parasitic infections and host pathogen interactions, including the biology of intestinal parasites.
She can speak to:
- Why Cyclospora can cause prolonged and sometimes severe gastrointestinal illness, and what makes the parasite different from more familiar foodborne pathogens.
- How Cyclospora spreads through contaminated food and water and why identifying the source of large outbreaks can be challenging.
- What the continued rise in cases says about the scale of the current outbreak and why reported numbers can continue to change as infections are identified and investigated.
Recent Media:
ABC 27- July 2026
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Jonathan Temte on: Resurgence in U.S Measles Cases
With the United States reporting its highest number of measles cases in decades, public health officials are raising concerns about declining vaccination rates, growing outbreaks, and the potential loss of the nation's measles elimination status.
Jon Temte, professor of family medicine and community health at the University of Wisconsin Madison, is a physician, vaccine researcher, and former member of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. He studies immunization, vaccine policy, and infectious disease prevention.
He can speak to:
- Why the U.S. is experiencing its largest measles resurgence in decades and the factors contributing to continued transmission.
- What declining vaccination rates mean for community immunity and why outbreaks are becoming more difficult to contain.
- What's at stake if measles continues to spread, including the implications for public health and future outbreak response.
- What individuals and families should know about MMR vaccination, immunity, and protecting themselves and their communities.
Recent Media:
The New York Times- July 2026
PBS News- July 2026
