Brian Labus

Assistant Professor, School of Public Health
Master's of Public Health Internship Program Coordinator
Expertise: Infectious disease, Disease surveillance, Outbreak investigation, COVID-19

Biography

Brian Labus is an expert on communicable disease surveillance, disease epidemiology, outbreak investigation, and the use of social media to detect and investigate health problems in the community.

Labus is an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics within UNLV's School of Public Health. Prior to joining UNLV, he spent 15 years as a senior investigator for the Southern Nevada Health District conducting outbreak investigations and disease surveillance, and implementing public health informatics systems. Has was the lead public health investigator for the largest outbreak of healthcare-acquired Hepatitis C in U.S. history.

From 2020 to 2023, Labus was selected to serve on Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak's five-member Medical Advisory Team, a statewide task force that helped guide community organizations and businesses on the scientific aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. At UNLV, he also a led a team of over 200 student contact tracers and participated in various aspects of the university's coronavirus response. 

Labus — a Registered Environmental Health Specialist through the National Environmental Health Association — is currently studying healthcare-acquired infections, including Nevada's Candida auris outbreak, and is helping to create public health workforce development projects for the Silver State.

His research and expertise have been featured in numerous news outlets such as the New York Times, CNN, LA Times, NPR, and more. His work has also been featured in academic and professional publications including the Twenty-Eighth Annual Conference on Innovative Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Nevada Journal of Public Health, Epidemiology and Infection, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Public Health, UNLV
  • M.P.H. in Infectious Diseases, University of California-Berkeley
  • B.S. in Biology, Purdue University

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Brian Labus In The News

Yahoo!
The McDonald’s slogan may be “I’m lovin’ it,” but many customers can’t say the same — at least, not after a foodborne illness outbreak at the chain led many to press pause on their regular fast food runs. Now McDonald’s is hoping to bring diners back — leading many to wonder if it’s actually safe to head to the Golden Arches once more.
Parents
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been about five times as many cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, this year compared to October 2023. In fact, in a recent surveillance report for the week ending October 12, the CDC reported 18,506 cases.
Health
A tickborne disease called babesiosis is rising sharply in the United States, according to a new study. The research, published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, looked at a nationally representative sample of about 3,500 Americans with babesiosis, which is often called "American malaria" because—like malaria—it's caused by a parasite that affects red blood cells. They found that case rates increased 9% per year from 2015 to 2022, the time frame studied.
Health
We all remember the days of strict COVID rules, like wearing a mask and keeping a six-foot distance from others. But as COVID has become less dangerous for most people and more ubiquitous, doctors and public health officials aren’t as emphatic about virus-related recommendations as they used to be.

Articles Featuring Brian Labus

UNLV XMAS
Campus News | December 3, 2024

This month’s frosty headlines and highlights from the students and faculty of UNLV.

unlv pumpkins
Campus News | November 4, 2024

A monthly roundup of the top news stories at UNLV, featuring the presidential election, gaming partnerships, and much more.

Undergrad researcher Benjamin Sabir helps H. Jeremy Cho examine an atmospheric water harvesting device. (Jeff Scheid/UNLV)
Campus News | October 1, 2024

A monthly roundup of the top news stories featuring UNLV staff and students.

microscopic image of mpox
Business and Community | September 16, 2024

Just when we thought infectious disease outbreaks were becoming old hat, another public health risk emerges. UNLV epidemiologist Brian Labus explains.