Hi there! Today, travel medicine specialist Dr. Chris Sanford ("Worm") sits down with internationally recognized expedition medicine expert Dr. Howard Donner, to ask him the questions we hear over and over, including:

• How do YOU purify drinking water in the backcountry?
• What are the advantages and drawbacks of using a water filter? Or a UV Sterilizer?
• How long should we boil water to make it safe for drinking?
• Is it important to rid water of viruses before drinking it?
• What's in your medical travel kit?
• When should people take acetazolamide (Diamox)? And, at what dose?

You can learn more about Dr. Donner here.

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Donner’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Hoi! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:

• What are the most common ENT issues you see among travelers?
• Why do ears hurt so much when flying--and what to do?
• What should I do if I have a cold when I need to fly?
• Dry air makes my nasal passages swell: What can I do?
• What's in your ENT travel kit?
• Nose hairs! Can they safely be trimmed?
• How can I deal with seasickness, vertigo, and Mal de Debarquement Syndrome?

You can learn more about Dr. Davis here.

And, please check out the upcoming 10th International Otolaryngology Underwater Update Course in Willemstad Curacao, November 11-14, 2025.

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Terve! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") come to you from the National Wilderness Medicine Conference in Snowbird, Utah. They talk with Kyle Allred, PA-C, about your FEET!

• How to size your shoes and boots?
• What kind of socks are best to prevent blisters?
• What to do if a hot spot develops?
• If you get a blister, should you pop it?
• How can we reduce moisture in the shoe?

These foot care topics and many more.

Please learn more about this amazing conference, now in its 38th year: www.wilderness-medicine.com

Here are links to some of the products Kyle mentioned in our conversation:

Salty Britches Anti-Chafing ointment

Injinji Running Socks

Hexagels

Leukotape

Hypafix tape

Skin Tac Adhesive Wipes

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s, Dr. Pottinger’s, and PA Allred's alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Greetings everyone! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") come to you from the National Wilderness Medicine Conference in Snowbird, Utah. They talk with Dr. Eric Weiss about heat and cold emergencies, focused on what you can do to stay safe and healthy in extreme environments.

Please learn more about this amazing conference, now in its 38th year: www.wilderness-medicine.com

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s, Dr. Pottinger’s, and Dr. Weiss's alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Sabaidee! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:

• What's up with flesh-eating disease on Florida beaches?
• What is the role of AI in travel health?
• I'm 56--should I get the RSV vaccine?
• What mosquito-borne infections might I have just contracted in Washington State?
• Do you believe trekking poles are beneficial?
• What is Global Entry, and is it worth it?
• What is antimicrobial resistance?

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Kuzuzangpo la! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:

• Should I worry about shark bites?
• How can I travel to Honduras if I have no proof of measles immunity?
• What’s the best way to permethrinize my clothing?
• Can I get the yellow fever vaccine if I am allergic to eggs?
• Any value of trying homeopathic remedies or probiotics for travel illness?
• Will global warming bring risk of unfrozen infection outbreaks?
• What do you think of the Kardia app?

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Hola! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:

• What's up with hantavirus in Arizona?
• How do you stay caffeinated when on the road?
• What's the deal with mpox infections on cruise ships?
• How do I best listen to my body to ensure I stay healthy when traveling?
• I'm told by my parents that I had a rash with penicillin when I was a child--am I still allergic?
• What do you think of the TimeShifter app for jetlag?
• What should I know about oropouche infection?

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Marhaba! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:

• Should I take antibiotics for appendicitis before I sail to Hawaii... or get it removed?
• Is Bilharzia a concern on the Zambezi?
• I'm planning a trip to USA for the World Cup... what should I worry about?
• How can I prevent frostbite in Patagonia?
• Any tips for coping with heat and humidity in the tropics?
• Should I be screened for infections after returning from Peru?
• Where do I need a visa to visit?
• What's up with the new medication to prevent HIV?

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Shalom! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:

• Traveler's Diarrhea: How to avoid it, and will treatment help prevent complications? 
• Can I catch leprosy from an armadillo?
• Rabies: Can I tell from an animal’s behavior whether it is rabid?
• Dengue fever vaccines: is that a thing?
• Is it safe to use loperamide when I get traveler's diarrhea?
• Should I use a condom even if I'm already on HIV PrEP?

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Buongiorno! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:

• Should I get vaccinated for COIVD-19 even though CDC no longer recommends it?
• What is DARK tourism and should I avoid it?
• Is Chikungunya vaccine right for me?
• What about tickborne encephalitis in Europe, should I get a immunized?
• Travel sounds dangerous... why should I even bother?

We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: [email protected].

And we hope you will join us for the upcoming UW Travel Medicine CME, June 26-27, 2025, In Seattle and online.

Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.