Outbreak News Radio

On the most recent episode of Outbreak News TV on YouTube, I talk to Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Amesh Adalja, MD.

He was named one of STAT's "13 Clinicians to Follow on Twitter and in 2015 named one of 5 "Pennsylvanians to Watch" by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

We discuss medicine and the media, the problem of vaccine hesitancy, antibiotic resistance and mosquito borne illness.

I also ask him his thoughts on some issues about Lyme disease, pandemic flu and more.

Earlier this week, researchers from the Hastings Center published an article in the journal Health Affairs in which they make the argument that patients should not be considered consumers.

The concept of patient-centered care has increasingly merged with the concept of patients as consumers, which "is conceptually confused and potentially harmful," the authors contend.

Joining me now to look at this paper is G. Keith Smith, MD. Dr Smith is the medical director, CEO and managing partner of the "free market" outpatient surgery center, Surgery Center of Oklahoma.

Mosquito borne diseases. Many probably have heard of dengue fever, Zika, malaria and West Nile virus, but many people may have never heard of Japanese encephalitis, or JE.

Joining me today to discuss JE is vaccinologist, public health physician and returning guest, Melvin Sanicas, MD

On Sunday's show I look at a variety of topics that are pressing in the news today. Measles and vaccines are important topics as UNICEF says global cases are surging to alarmingly high levels.

Madagascar's outbreak is massive and some are asking, could that happen here? I give my thoughts.

The outbreak Vancouver, BC has prompted plans for mandatory vaccination and are you old enough to remember when the lines would stretch around the corner for the polio vaccine?

The hepatitis A outbreak situation in the US is affecting about 1/3 of the state and critics say the hardest hit state, Kentucky--health officials response was "too low and too slow.

I discuss the sad and preventable situation of congenital syphilis as Arizona and Manitoba, Canada see tragic increases.

Finally, a law suit is percolating in Canada over the side-effects deployed soldiers experienced they blame on the anti-malarial, mefloquine.

The Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, the first and only radio program dedicated to infectious disease and health news and information, airs every Sunday at 1 pm ET in the Tampa Bay area on AM 1380 The Biz and online at http://1380thebiz.com/

Knowing how to prepare for overseas travel becomes more important day-by-day--what vaccines do you need and how to avoid mosquito borne illness are just two critical components to safe travel.

My guest today is Christopher Sanford, MD. Dr Sanford is an associate professor of global health and of family medicine at the University of Washington, a family practice physician an the coordinator of seven travel clinics with in the University of Washington system.

He is also the author of the new book, Staying Healthy abroad--A global travelers guide.

I recently saw an Open letter to Vermont legislators several years ago who were considering vaccine legislation from an immunologist named Dr Tetyana Obukhanych. The letter was resurrected and published on the website called Health Impact News.

Basically her goal in the letter is to say that its unwarranted the parents should be forced to get their children vaccinated before going to school. In this letter she makes many claims and I wanted to get the thoughts of vaccine expert.

Joining me now to dissect the claims made in the letter is Paul Offit, MD. Dr Offit is the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology, Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

I recently saw an Open letter to Vermont legislators several years ago who were considering vaccine legislation from an immunologist named Dr Tetyana Obukhanych.

The letter was resurrected and published on the website called Health Impact News.

Basically her goal in the letter is to say that its unwarranted the parents should be forced to get their children vaccinated before going to school. In this letter she makes many claims and I wanted to get the thoughts of vaccine expert.

Joining me now to dissect the claims made in the letter is Paul Offit, MD. Dr Offit is the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology, Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

On Sunday’s Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, I take a look at the new review in the Lancet Infectious Diseases concerning the resurgence of vector-borne diseases and the implications for spillover in the region, particularly looking at the topic of the malaria epidemic in the country. I also look at the recent statement by FDA Commissioner Dr. […]

On Sunday's Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, I take a look at the new review in the Lancet Infectious Diseases concerning the resurgence of vector-borne diseases and the implications for spillover in the region, particularly looking at the topic of the malaria epidemic in the country.

I also look at the recent statement by FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb who said if states don't require more schoolchildren to get vaccinated, the federal government might have to step in.

During the second half I play a portion of my Outbreak News TV interview with CIDRAP director, Dr Mike Osterholm.

The Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, the first and only radio program dedicated to infectious disease and health news and information, airs every Sunday at 1 pm ET in the Tampa Bay area on AM 1380 The Biz and online at http://1380thebiz.com/

Venezuela's tumbling economy and authoritarian rule have precipitated an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The country is now experiencing a more than 1 million percent inflation, healthcare is in crisis with the exodus of biomedical scientists and qualified healthcare professionals.

More than 280,000 children are at risk for death from severe malnutrition and according to the last official nationwide epidemiologic bulletin, published in 2016, infant and maternal mortality had risen by 30% and 65%.

There is also the reemergence of arthropod-borne and vaccine-preventable diseases in Venezuela.

Joining me from Venezuela to discuss this epidemic situation is Dr Alberto E. Paniz-Mondolfi. Dr. Paniz-Mondolfi is an infectious diseases pathologist and clinician at the IDB Biomedical Research Institute in Barquisimeto, Venezuela and he is the founder of the Venezuelan Science Incubator, an independent health research organization.