Heather Ferguson
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drheatherferg.bsky.social
Heather Ferguson
@drheatherferg.bsky.social
3.2K followers 910 following 240 posts
Prof of Medical #Entomology & Disease Ecology @uofgsbohvm.bsky.social & Visiting Scientist Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania. #Malaria #Mosquito #NTDs #GlobalHealth #Equity
https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/bohvm/staff/heatherferguson
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drheatherferg.bsky.social
Great to host Dr Sylvia Valentine @historylady2013.bsky.social who gave a timely, fascinating talk on her work uncovering the history of the anti-vax movement in Scotland -present since start of #smallpox vaccination. Read more here⏬
www.dundee.ac.uk/research-unc...
#Vaccineswork
@sbohvm.gla.ac.uk
Photo of Dr Sylvia Valentine delivering her talk on the history of the anti-vaccination movement in Scotland. She is sitting at the front of a lecture theatre in front of a slide that says "What preceded compulsory vaccination' (for small pox), with the bullet points under it reading -No cure -Folk remedies -Inoculation (variolation) first performed in Britiain in 1721 by Charles Maitland (1666-1748, Aberdeenshire) -The Suttonian method -Edward Jenner - Cowpox variolation/innoculation -Variolation prohibited from 1840 in England and Wales, and in Scotland from 1864 -Charitable schemes Photo showing a slide from Dr Sylvia Valentine's presentation. It is a figure showing the number of Smallpox deaths per year in Scotland from 1855-1918. It shows sharp rises and peaks between 1855-1875s representing various outbreaks, with a substantial collapse to near zero from ~1880-1918, with just a few small bumps between 1897-1910s. The sharp decline corresponds to introduction of widespread vaccination. Photo of 3 women researchers (head to foot) standing in the Graham Kerr Zoology Museum at the University of Glasgow. Left to right - Prof Heather Ferguson, the seminar speaker Dr Sylvia Valentine, and Dr Rebecca Mancy.
November 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
"Actually I also get really nervous about whether my team will qualify for the World Cup.."

😬😬

C'mon Scotland!

It's the hope that kills...

#Domesticscenes

#SCODEN
A meme showing a photo taken on the set of the film 'Passion of the Christ'. Shows Mel Gibson sitting in a director's chair, arm outstretched towards the person setting next to him - the actor playing Jesus who is wearing a crown of thorns and covered in blood. Mel Gibson - who looks completely fine and unharmed - looks like he is telling something important to the actor playing Jesus, who is looking intently at him.
November 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Pleasure to participate in 1st in-person meeting of the Scottish Health Protection Network's committee on #Vector-borne diseases last week.

Great to meet with colleagues to brainstorm what the future of #vector-borne disease surveillance in Scotland should look like.

#Ticks
#Midges
#Mosquitoes
Photo of Professor Dominic Mellor from Public Health Scotland standing in front of a screen with a slide reading "Scottish Health Protection Network - Vector-borne disease subgroup, Workshop, Nov 4th 2025". Photo taken while he was delivering opening remarks to the workshop Photo of 5 participants at the Scottish Health Protection Network's Vector-borne diseases workshop; taken at the workshop on Nov 4th. Standing left to right - Dr Georgia Kirby (University of Glasgow), Prof Heather Ferguson (University of Glasgow), Dr Jolyon Medlock (UK Health Security Agency), Dr Caroline Robinson (Scottish Rural University College), Dr Chris Redman (Public Health Scotland)
November 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Second page of article
Screen shot of the 2nd page of news article in British Medical Journal, Oct 31st 2025, with title "Are deadly mosquitoes, pathogen laden ticks, and waterborne infections being brought to the UK by climate change?" Article has interview with Heather Ferguson and other scientists discussing risk of vector-borne disease in the UK under climate change.
November 2, 2025 at 9:12 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Is #climatechange increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases in the UK?
My comments #BMJ
⬇️
www.bmj.com/content/391/...

Short answer - yes! But rather than focussing just on tropical pathogens & vectors moving north, most imminent risk may be increased transmission capacity in native vectors
Screen shot of the 1st page of news article in British Medical Journal, Oct 31st 2025, with title "Are deadly mosquitoes, pathogen laden ticks, and waterborne infections being brought to the UK by climate change?" Article has interview with Heather Ferguson and other scientists discussing risk of vector-borne disease in the UK under climate change.
November 2, 2025 at 9:12 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Can interventions both reduce malaria and destabilize vector populations? Study by Tristan Dennis & Mafalda Viana explored this using pyrethroid-pyriproxifen nets. While these nets ⬇️ malaria in Burkina Faso, they had no impact on gene flow in vector population
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Picture shows Figure 2 from new paper by Dennis et al in Evolutionary Applications (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eva.70173). The Figure has 4 panels - A, B, C and D. Each figures has dots of 2 different colours - the yellow indicates data from mosquitoes collected in clusters with the pyrethroid-pyriproxifen nets, and blue dots are data from clusters with the standard pyrethroid-only net. Analysis of spatial population structure and diversity. (A) Principal component analysis of An. gambiae samples, with variance explained by each PC in brackets. Panels B, C and D indicate between-cluster: Timepoint FST, within cluster: Timepoint π, and per-individual FIS by treatment and year, respectively. Yellow and blue points indicate control (0) and treated (1) sites and individuals, respectively.
October 28, 2025 at 7:34 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Thx to Al Jazeera for discussion of new report by #AfricanLeadersMalariaAlliance & @malarianomore.org on expected impacts of #globalhealth funding cuts on #malaria with

Dr Joy Phumaphi
Dr Tanja Haj-Hassan

Report ⬇️

economy.zeromalaria.org

Video ⬇️

youtu.be/PBMQEAsk8_M?...

@sbohvm.gla.ac.uk
Screenshot from panel discussion from the Al Jazeera Inside Story, Oct 22/2025. Shows images of 3 guests joining the panel by video link from Pretoria, Amman and Glasgow Left to Right - Dr Joy Phumphi, African Leaders Malaria Alliance, Dr Tanja Haj-Hassan, Paediatric intensive care and humanitarian doctor & Co-founder of @GazaMedicVoices, Prof Heather Ferguson, University of Glasgow
October 22, 2025 at 9:48 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
On behalf of the @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk #Diversity & #Inclusion committee, we are honoured to host Prof Steven Spoel FRSE from the University of Edinburgh, to give our #BlackHistoryMonth talk next week.

We are really looking forward to hearing about his inspiring work.
Banner advertising the talk by Professor Steven Spoel, FRSE, from the University of Edinburgh, that will take place at the University of Glasgow on Monday Oct 27th, 2025. Shows his talk title of: Breaking boundaries in Plant Sciences: Reflections on leading research and Championing Black Scientists. On the right side there is a picture of Prof Spoel. He is wearing a grey shirt, and glasses.
October 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
👀👀🤩
October 12, 2025 at 6:08 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Beautiful day for the #GreatScottishRun
Our team from @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk were proud to run in support of a charity that is very near & dear to our hearts @malarianomoreuk.bsky.social
Many thx to all who supported us - if you would like to ⬇️
ajbellgreatscottishrun2025.enthuse.com/pf/heather-f...
Five people from the Vectors & Infectious Diseases group at the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, standing together near the start of the Great Scottish Run. Left to right - Tasmin Alexander, Meshach Lee, Mimi Cox, Heather Ferguson & Francesco Baldini. They are smiling. Mesh, Mimi, Heather and Francesco are wearing running vests with the logo of Malaria No More UK Five people from the Vectors & Infectious Diseases group at the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, lying on the ground in a circle, just after the finish line of the Great Scottish Run. From top of the circle and clockwise - Tasmin Alexander, Meshach Lee, Mimi Cox, Heather Ferguson & Francesco Baldini. They are - still smiling - but also pretending to be exhausted /passed out (or are they pretending?).
October 5, 2025 at 12:34 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
In 2wks, our #VectorsGlasgow team will do #GreatScottishRun for @malarianomoreuk.bsky.social They do crucial work to raise awareness & advocate for investment in #malaria control- never more needed with recent global health funding cuts
⏬️

- ajbellgreatscottishrun2025.enthuse.com/pf/heather-f...
Six people standing in front of the Graham Kerr Zoology Building, University of Glasgow . Four are holding signs with the 'Malaria No More UK' logo. Left to right - Mary Ryan, Ryan Carmichael, Meshach Kee, Tasmin Alexander, Heather Ferguson & Francesco Baldini
September 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Looking forward to presenting our thoughts on potential impacts of hashtag#climatechange on hashtag#malaria vector control to the #COMSTECH - OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation on Wed Sept 25th.

You can register here docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
The image is an advertisement for my talk. It has a title reading COMSTECH Expert Talk : Potential impacts of climate change on malaria vector control in Africa" Date: 24th Sept 2025. Time: 15:00-16:00 PST. Mode: Online. Dr Heather Ferguson, Profession of Infectious Disease Ecology, University of Glasgow UK. It has a photo of me, and a short biography as taken from my website (https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/bohvm/staff/heatherferguson/). Deadline for registration is Sept 23rd. Contact is mnoor@comstech.org. Registration link is in the post.
September 21, 2025 at 2:44 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Congrats Tegemeo Gavana from #Ifakara Health Institute on passing his PhD at the Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute; presenting great work on community-based larviciding for #malaria vector control in Tanzania, & supervisors Christian Lengeler & Sarah Moore.

Pleasure to be external examiner.
Photo of 3 people standing in front of the entrance (glass doors) of the Swiss Tropical Public Health Instittue in Basel, Switzerland. It is bright and sunny. From left to right is Heather Ferguson (external examiner), Tegemeo Gavana (successful PhD candidate) and Christian Lengeler (PhD supervisor). Tegemeo is wearing the traditional 'PhD celebration' hat - a tall black mortar board hat, with pictures of a mosquito and the Tanzanian flag showing
September 18, 2025 at 12:33 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Street art in #BarrasMarket - keep Glesgae weird
Photo of front of a food stand, white board with red letters and the top saving "Rock Dog", and "cheeseburger " along the bottom. Wall with street art painting- it is a purple skull with turquoise eyes and teeth. A red brain is showing . It is smoking a brown roll up, there is a yellow plume of smoke going from mouth up around skull to the other side of the head. It is on a red background Street art painting. Three storey, light grey wall with an image a female body in a robot 1920s style (like the film Metropolis). The body is shown from gead to top of the thigh. The body is painted in geometric sections; with alternating colours of light and dark turquoise, light and dark peach, red and mustard yellow. The arms are bent, with hands in front of abdomen. Whike the body and arms are colours patches, the hands and face are in realistic /human style.Face is of young woman with long wavy brown hair, looking up. She has a halo made up of colour patches in same palette as the body. Street art painting. Side of a one storey building. It is painted mauve, with a green cartoon head figure- open mouth, angular teeth, peach rimmed eyes with peach bolt on top of head. To the left of it are shapes like vases/orbs of blue, grey, orange and black colour. To the right is a realistic painting of a young woman's face, hair pulled back, in a turquoise tint. In the upper left are black letters saying 'the Square Yard'.
September 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Completely rapt by this audiobook about the late journalist Marie Colvin. Extraordinary writing about an extraordinary person, all the more impactful for being narrated by the author, Marie's friend & incredibly talented Lindsey Hilsum. Highly recommend - I already feel sad about finishing it soon
Cover of the book 'In extremis: the life of war correspondent Marie Colvin ' by Lindsey Hilsum. Shows black and white photo of Marie in late 40s/early 50s, from elbows up. She is wearing leather jacket and dark t-shirt. Hair is ponytail. Looking forward at camera, with black patch covering the eye that was damaged during shooting between Sri Lankan government forces and Tamil Tigers when she was on assignment.
September 2, 2025 at 7:30 AM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Beautiful piece by @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social in @theguardian.com 2day, reflecting on how to enjoy 'good days' even in the midst of great uncertainty, worry & loss. Very moving, very funny. Great advice on not letting grief tainting wonderful memories

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Extract from Michael Rosen's article, describing his thoughts on stopping grief taint a good memory of his late son Eddie "Another thought: whether someone is alive or dead, the past has gone. When I sit in a state of regret and loss about Eddie as a child, it can (if I let it) be a place only and purely of regret and loss. It’s as if I say to myself, “That funny moment when Eddie found a dead mouse and thought it was a gerbil is sad because Eddie isn’t here any more.” Why do I do that? Why do I spoil that funny moment by smothering it with Eddie’s death? After all, that moment is no more “gone” than the scenes with any of my other children or the scenes with my father or mother or brother. So I tell myself I shouldn’t taint these fun memories with Eddie with the fact that he’s died."
August 31, 2025 at 7:51 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Street art, Queen's Park Glasgow
August 16, 2025 at 1:37 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Congratulations to the FIVE new PhD Graduates from the #Ifakara Health Institute, #Tanzania & @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk

Dr Najat Kahamba
Dr Joel Odero
Dr Emmanuel Mwanga
Dr Issa Mshani
Dr Andrea Kipingu

Future for #malaria control looks bright -so proud of you
Picture of 5 PhD Graduates in robes, standing under an arch at the University of Glasgow. Left to right Issa Mshani, Najat Kahamba, Andrea Kipingu, Joel Odero and Emmanuel Mwanga. It's a sunny day. Picture of 5 PhD Graduates and current graduate students from the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, who are studyingat the University of Glasgow. They are standing in the cloisters, behind a large white 'UofG' sign, with the Tanzanian flag draped over it. Left to right Issa Mshani, Joel Odero, Heather Ferguson, Najat Kahamba, Najat's friend, Doreen Siria, Andrea Kipingu, Emmanuel Mwanga and Joel Nkya. Dr Najat Kahamba standing outside in her graduation robe, holding a Tanzanian plan in front of her
July 8, 2025 at 9:50 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Beautiful end to the fantastic @uofgjmsphd.bsky.social conference, with the incredibly talented Adam Heron performing a very rare piece from Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a Franco-Guadeloupean composer. Adam's PhD work is bringing back to the spotlight.

Thx to organizers- very inspiring few days.
June 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Great to be at @uofgjmsphd.bsky.social conference with PhD students from @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk
@meshachlee.bsky.social, Valerio Lhamine, Shennice Knight & Rose Kitoyi.
Inspiring to hear about the research, impact and community this programme is building. Exactly what good #ResearchCulture should be.
Picture of 5 people standing in the atrium of the James McCune Smith building at the University of Glasgow (from knees up). From left to right - Meshach Lee, Valerio Lhamine, Shennice Knight and Rose Kitoyi (all PhD students in the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine), and further right - Heather Ferguson.
June 26, 2025 at 8:52 AM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Looking forward to participating in this webinar organized by the @rcpedin.bsky.social next month, focusing on #OneHealth and the #Environment.

I'll discuss our work on impacts of #climatechange on #vector-borne diseases

@mosquitoscotland.bsky.social
@sbohvm.gla.ac.uk

Details for registration 🔽
Image shows an outline of the globe in red tint, with a red pulse line running across it and the logo of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh above it. Text below gives details of the 'Environment and One Health' webinar that will be held on July 8th, with details of how to register
June 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Great few days in Barcelona attending the #GordonResearchConference on "Shifting Landscapes in Malaria Research, Control and Prevention" Thx to organizers for opportunity to give keynote on our work on climate change & implications for malaria re-emergence in UK & vector control in Africa
Picture of 4 colleagues standing outside the Rey Jaime Hotel in Barcelona,where the Gordon Research Conference on malaria was held May 25-29th 2924. Left to right - Nilani Chandradeva, Imperial College, Nakul Chitnis, Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute, Heather Ferguson, University of Glasgow & Fitsum Tadesse, Armauer Hansen Research Institute
May 28, 2025 at 3:28 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
And that's it officially passed - #PandemicAccord now adopted as first order business at #WHA78 this morning. Well done to all who worked so hard to push for this important policy #HealthEquity #GlobalHealth #HealthforAll
Photo taken of table with Chairs and members of the WHO Secretariat immediately after the Pandemic Accord was officially approved at the opening session of #WHA78 on May 20th, 2025
May 20, 2025 at 7:42 AM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Standing ovation & cheers around the room after unanimous support for adoption of the #PandemicAccord at #WHA78. 124 /124 votes in support, with a few absentions. Historic moment for multilateralism & global health. The next pandemic will come, hopefully this will ensure a better response
Screen shot of table where the Chairs of the World Health Assembly meeting and WHO Secretariat have seats at the 78th meeting. Left to right - this is shows 17 people, including the WHO Director General Dr Tedros Gheybresus. The delegates are on their feet, clapping, immediately after reading out the unanimous vote to adopt the resolution on the global pandemic accord.
May 19, 2025 at 7:54 PM
drheatherferg.bsky.social
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus @who.int raises health crisis in #Gaza at #WHA2025 'The risk of famine is rising due to the deliberate withholding of food. People are dying from preventable diseases while medicines wait at the border. WHO stands ready to help food enter if & when allowed" #BestMedicineIsPeace
Photo of Dr Tedros Ghebreysus, Director of the World Health Organization, giving his plenary address at the World Health Assembly, May 19,2025. Image is from the live stream. You can see Dr Tedros from elbows up, speaking at a podium/desk, with an small image of the sign language interpreter in the bottom right of the frame.
May 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM