Michael Niezgoda

Michael Niezgoda is a Research Microbiologist in the Rabies Program, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He received a Master of Science at the University of Georgia in Medical Microbiology in 1996 with a thesis “Pathogenesis of rabies in the domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

His research studies on rabies pathogenesis in domestic ferrets resulted in the endorsement by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Incorporated to include ferrets, along with dogs and cats, to be vaccinated for rabies in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control recommendations. Subsequently, his focus has been on laboratory techniques for research and diagnosis of rabies. He has conducted lyssavirus surveillance and diagnostic training both domestically and internationally and has been involved in implementing new rabies diagnostic techniques in many countries around the world.