Outbreak News Radio

In one of the most foolish things I’ve seen in a while, French animal-rights activist and anti-specist, Aymeric Caron said, “People should not kill mosquitoes but allow them to take blood donations”?! Even other activists say he’s gone too far. Never mind the great number of pathogens–malaria, yellow fever, dengue and a slew of others. […]

In one of the most foolish things I've seen in a while, French animal-rights activist and anti-specist, Aymeric Caron said, "People should not kill mosquitoes but allow them to take blood donations"?!

Even other activists say he's gone too far.

Never mind the great number of pathogens--malaria, yellow fever, dengue and a slew of others.

In this podcast, I look at what Caron said and some of the astounding numbers as it pertains to mosquito-borne illness and death.

A week ago, an opinion piece was published in Newsday entitled, A bold plan against tick borne disease, which states that a national public -private strategy is needed. Joining me today is the co-author of the article, Holly Ahern, Holly is an associate professor of microbiology at SUNY Adirondack. A bold plan against tick-borne diseases […]

A week ago, an opinion piece was published in Newsday entitled, A bold plan against tick borne disease, which states that a national public -private strategy is needed.

Joining me now is the co-author of the article, Holly Ahern, Holly is an associate professor of microbiology at SUNY Adirondack

Kris Newby's book, Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons has sparked a lot of chatter, approving and critical, including being the impetus of legislation in Congress.

In this podcast, I look at what some critics have said about this thesis and how Newby responds. I also take a look at New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith's work on the House floor.

What do you think? Is this true, do you believe as Newby does or is it another conspiracy theory? Let me know your thoughts.

Bangladesh is experiencing the worst dengue outbreak, which has spread to all 64 districts in the country.

In July 2019, there were more cases reported than in any full year.

In this podcast, I look at the situation a little closer, the numbers, the serotypes, and the protests and criticisms of the government response.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus, a mosquitoborne flavivirus, is the most common vaccine-preventable cause of encephalitis in Asia.

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published updated recommendations from it's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the JE vaccine.

Joining me today to discuss JE, the vaccine, travel and the updated recommendations is Susan Hills, MBBS. Dr. Hills is with the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases with the CDC.

Last week in the journal, mBio, a team of experts issued a new call to action, urging state and federal entities to immediately fund research and develop new diagnostic tests targeting chronic wasting disease, or CWD.

Joining me to discuss this issue is the director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Michael Osterholm, PhD.

In a recent, very important article published in Foreign Policy, my guest Laurie Garrett writes about how the World Bank was holding back funds to tackle the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

An issue not very well known until her article.

To look at this situation and more is Laurie Garrett. Laurie is a former fellow for Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Pulitzer Prize winning science writer and the author of a number of really good books.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded a one-year Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant for $225,000 in funding to Enable Biosciences to develop an improved Lyme disease test.

Columbia and Tulane universities are sub-awardees of the grant.

Joining me today to discuss this work is Monica Embers, Ph.D., Dr Embers is an assistant professor of bacteriology and parasitology at Tulane University.