Edward Walker

WSYM | 2021-07-22

Michigan is having an unusual summer for mosquitoes. They are swarming the parks, waiting for you outside of your car and even making their way into your home. "I've been in the mosquito business for almost 40 years now this is really an impressive population," said Ned Walker, a professor of microbiology and entomology at Michigan State University. Walker is interested in the mosquito problem from a pest point of view and also from a disease point of view.

MSU Today | 1969-12-31

Edward “Ned” Walker, Michigan State University (MSU) professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, is examining how emerging infections behave in time and space. He will use this information to further basic biology and to develop predictive models that guide community and public health responses to emerging diseases.

“Humanity seems to be facing a constant march of emerging infections,” Walker said. “Some of these diseases arrive so quickly, and many of them create social issues in addition to health challenges. When these emerging infections arrive, my colleagues and I want to know where they set up, what will be high- risk years, and if it’s possible to predict how they will behave.”

Walker selected West Nile virus (WNV) to study. This virus, which is part of the Flaviviridae family, appeared in New York City in 1999 and very rapidly spread across the continental United States, reaching the West Coast by 2004. Even though it’s not discussed in the media as often as it once was, Walker said that the disease still causes serious epidemics in the United States.

MSU Today | 2017-07-17

A seven-year, $8 million National Institute of Heath sponsored grant will enable medical entomologist Edward “Ned” Walker to continue his work fighting against Malaria in Africa. The grant forming a partnership with the University of Malawi College of Medicine, is one of 11 grants in 2017 that support International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research...