Outbreak News Radio

Accumulating evidence suggests that a common single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii may be a contributor to affecting male fertility. An April 2025 study published in the FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies) Journal showed for the first time that "human sperm lose their heads upon direct contact" with the parasite.

Could this be affecting male fertility?

Joining me today to discuss this topic is William Sullivan, PhD. Dr Sullivan is a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University

A common parasite can decapitate human sperm − with implications for male fertility

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and on today's show, we are going to look at four mental health issues -anxiety, adult ADHD, PTSD, and depression.

Joining me today to discuss these issues and his personal story is author & social psychologist, Jamie Hughes.

Managing Mental Health

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The warm weather of summer is upon us, people will spend more time doing outdoor activities, as will potentially dangerous pathogens carrying critters like mosquitoes and ticks.

My guest today will discuss the risks mosquitoes and ticks pose to Americans across the country. In addition, she'll explain how the public can best protect ourselves and family members from these bloodthirsty pests.

Joining me today is Lee Haines, PhD, Dr Haines is medical entomologist and Associate Research Professor at the Department of Biological Science at the University of Notre Dame.

Antimicrobial resistance is a rising global threat. When these become ineffective, infections can become difficult or impossible to treat, leading to an increase in the spread and severity of disease.

In a new study, published in Nature Medicine, a team of researchers at the Center for Phage Biology and Therapy at Yale discovered a novel approach that may revolutionize the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

In the study, the research team investigated the use of phage therapy—the use of viruses, or phages, to target and kill bacteria—to help patients with cystic fibrosis, a disease in which antimicrobial resistance is a significant issue. The team pioneered a strategy to select phages that not only kill bacteria that cause infections but also weaken surviving bacteria to become less virulent or less resistant to antibiotics.

Joining me today to discuss phage therapy and their research is Jon Koff, MD, Dr. Koff is an associate professor in Yale School of Medicine's Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine and medical director of the Center for Phage Biology and Therapy.

Check out the paper: Phage Therapy May Treat Drug Resistance in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis, Study Finds

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On today's show, I want to take a look at three news stories about rabies recently and have my expert guest break them down.

I want to look at the fatal case in a organ transplant recipient, catching rabies from cow's milk and the upsurge in positive raccoons in Quebec.

Joining me today is Charles E. Rupprecht, VMD, MS, PhD. Dr Rupprecht is the CEO of Lyssa LLC, a biomedical consulting company and among many prestigious positions, he was the Chief of the Rabies Program at the CDC for nearly 20 years.

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In today's news report, I give an update on the measles situation in the three major countries of North America--the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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In this news cast, I look at the latest numbers from the measles outbreak in the United States through March 15 this year.

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In today's news cast, I take a look at the dramatic increases in locally acquired chikungunya virus cases on Reunion Island, off the African coast in the Indian Ocean.

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Today I want to take a look at the Basic Reproduction Number, or R0 (r-naught). We saw this term become more commonplace in the news and other talk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is R0 and what does it mean? How do public health officials come up with this number? What are the limitations? And how is it used in everyday public health?

Joining me to offer some clarity on R0 is Chandana Bala. Chandy is a science writer for Gideon Informatics.

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In this short podcast, I look at the latest numbers for Lyme disease in Maine for 2024.

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