When it comes to respiratory disease investigations, Dr. Daniel Jernigan loves the hunt. Like an expert tracker, the seasoned epidemiologist asks: Who’s falling ill? Is there a cluster of cases? What relationship do the patients have with each other? As director of CDC’s Influenza Division, Jernigan is always on the hunt, working to prepare for the next influenza pandemic. He believes the answers are out there if we know how to look for them. “We are determined to intervene where we can and stop the spread of disease—that’s public health,” he says.
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Contact CDC Public Affairs 404.639.3286 media@cdc.gov
Associate Director for Epidemiologic Science, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases
Chief, Epidemiology Section, Epidemiology and Laboratory Branch, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases
Senior Medical Officer, Office of Surveillance, National Center for Infectious Diseases
Medical Epidemiologist, Communicable Diseases Section, Washington State Department of Health
Physician, Neah Bay Service Unit, Indian Health Service
Education
Duke University (BS/cum laude) Zoology
University of Texas (MPH)
Baylor College of Medicine (MD)
American Board of Internal Medicine (Certified)
Honors and Awards
USPHS Distinguished Service Medal for global influenza detection and response
USPHS Achievement Medals
USPHS Crisis Response Service Awards for Hurricane Katrina and anthrax responses
Association of Public Health Laboratories Presidential Award
CDC’s Alexander D. Langmuir Award
CDC’s Donald C. Maeckle Award
University of Alabama Frank Cobbs Intern Award
Baylor College of Medicine Frank Netter Award
Harvey JJ, Chester S, Burke SA, Ansbro M, Aden T, Gose R, Sciulli R, Bai J, DesJardin L, Benfer JL, Hall J, Smole S, Doan K, Popowich MD, St George K, Quinlan T, Halse TA, Li Z, Pérez-Osorio AC, Glover WA, Russell D, Reisdorf E, Whyte T Jr, Whitaker B, Hatcher C, Srinivasan V, Tatti K, Tondella ML, Wang X, Winchell JM, Mayer LW, Jernigan D, Mawle AC. Comparative analytical evaluation of the respiratory TaqMan Array Card with real-time PCR and commercial multi-pathogen assays. J Virol Methods. 2016 Feb;228:151-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2015.11.020. Epub 2015 Nov 27. PMID: 26640122
Reed C, Kim IK, Singleton JA, Chaves SS, Flannery B, Finelli L, Fry A, Burns E, Gargiullo P, Jernigan D, Cox N, Bresee J. Estimated influenza illnesses and hospitalizations averted by vaccination-United States, 2013-14 influenza season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014 Dec 12;63(49):1151-4. PMID: 25503917
Jernigan DB, Cox NJ. H7N9: preparing for the unexpected in influenza. Annu Rev Med. 2015;66:361-71. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-010714-112311. Epub 2014 Oct 29. Review. PMID: 25386931
Holloway R, Rasmussen SA, Zaza S, Cox NJ, Jernigan DB. Updated preparedness and response framework for influenza pandemics. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2014 Sep 26;63(RR-06):1-18. PMID: 25254666
Williams LO, Kupka NJ, Schmaltz SP, Barrett S, Uyeki TM, Jernigan DB. Rapid influenza diagnostic test use and antiviral prescriptions in outpatient settings pre- and post-2009 H1N1 pandemic. J Clin Virol. 2014 May;60(1):27-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2014.01.016. Epub 2014 Feb 12. PMID: 24630481
Jhung MA, Epperson S, Biggerstaff M, Allen D, Balish A, Barnes N, Beaudoin A, Berman L, Bidol S, Blanton L, Blythe D, Brammer L, D’Mello T, Danila R, Davis W, de Fijter S, Diorio M, Durand LO, Emery S, Fowler B, Garten R, Grant Y, Greenbaum A, Gubareva L, Havers F, Haupt T, House J, Ibrahim S, Jiang V, Jain S, Jernigan D, et al. Outbreak of Variant Influenza A(H3N2) Virus in the United States. Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Oct 24. PMID: 24065322
Epperson S, Jhung M, Richards S, Quinlisk P, Ball L, Moll M, Boulton R, Haddy L, Biggerstaff M, Brammer L, Trock S, Burns E, Gomez T, Wong KK, Katz J, Lindstrom S, Klimov A, Bresee JS, Jernigan DB, Cox N, Finelli L. Influenza A (H3N2)v Virus Investigation Team. Human infections with influenza A(H3N2) variant virus in the United States, 2011-2012. Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Jul;57 Suppl 1:S4-S11. doi: 10.1093/cid/cit272. PMID: 23794729
Biggerstaff M, Reed C, Epperson S, Jhung MA, Gambhir M, Bresee JS, Jernigan DB, Swerdlow DL, Finelli L. Estimates of the number of human infections with influenza A(H3N2) variant virus, United States, August 2011-April 2012. Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Jul;57 Suppl 1:S12-5. doi: 10.1093/cid/cit273.
Braden CR, Dowell SF, Jernigan DB, Hughes JM. Progress in global surveillance and response capacity 10 years after severe acute respiratory syndrome. Emerg Infect Dis. Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Jun;19(6):864-9. doi: 10.3201/eid1906.130192. Review. PMID: 237318712013 Jun [date cited]. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1906.130192
Reed C, Biggerstaff M, Finelli L, Koonin LM, Beauvais D, Uzicanin A, Plummer A, Bresee J, Redd SC, Jernigan DB. Novel framework for assessing epidemiologic effects of influenza epidemics and pandemics. Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Jan;19(1):85-91. doi: 10.3201/eid1901.120124.
Van TT, Miller J, Warshauer DM, Reisdorf E, Jernigan D, Humes R, Shult PA. Pooling nasopharyngeal/throat swab specimens to increase testing capacity for influenza viruses by PCR. J Clin Microbiol. 2012 Mar;50(3):891-6. Epub 2012 Jan 11.
WHO Writing Group (Jernigan DB, collaborator). Improving influenza vaccine virus selection: report of a WHO informal consultation held at WHO headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, 14-16 June 2010. Influenza Other Respi Viruses. 2012 Mar;6(2):142-52, e1-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00277.x. Epub 2011 Aug 8.
Shrestha SS, Swerdlow DL, Borse RH, Prabhu VS, Finelli L, Atkins CY,Owusu-Edusei K, Bell B, Mead PS, Biggerstaff M, Brammer L, Davidson H, Jernigan D, et al. Estimating the burden of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in the United States (April 2009-April 2010). Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Jan 1;52 Suppl 1:S75-82.
Jernigan DB, et al. Detecting 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection: availability of diagnostic testing led to rapid pandemic response. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Jan 1;52 Suppl 1:S36-43.
Jhung MA, Swerdlow D, Olsen SJ, Jernigan D, et al. Epidemiology of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in the United States. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Jan 1;52 Suppl 1:S13-26.
Ciccarone RM, Kim M, Tice AD, Nakata M, Effler P, Jernigan DB, Cardo DM, Sinkowitz-Cochran RL. Prevention of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection among Asian/Pacific Islanders: a qualitative assessment. Hawaii Med J. 2010 Jun;69(6):142-4.
Zarcone P, Nordenberg D, Meigs M, Merrick U, Jernigan D, Hinrichs SH. Community-driven standards-based electronic laboratory data-sharing networks. Public Health Rep. 2010 May-Jun;125 Suppl 2:47-56.
Video: CDC Disease Detective: Dr. Dan Jernigan – YouTube link
Video: Dan Jernigan, CDC: Most important lessons learned from the lab response to H1N1 outbreak? – YouTube link
Video: Daniel Jernigan (CDC) discusses the 2011-2012 Influenza Season – YouTube link
