Outbreak News Radio

Schistosomiasis, which is caused by parasitic flatworms, affects nearly 210 million people worldwide, primarily in Africa, Asia, and South America, and is responsible for about 200,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization.

A research team from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and several international organizations looked at tea infusions made from two species of the wormwood plant in the treatment of the parasitic infection and compared it to the standard care, praziquantel.

Joining me to discuss the research is Pamela Weathers, PhD. Dr Weathers is a professor of biology and biotechnology at WPI and a co-author of the study.

On today's show I look at the ins and outs of Medicare for All, a single payer, government health insurance program popularized most recently by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and now a number of new progressives recently elected are carrying the mantle with Sanders.

I discuss what the program is designed to cover (which is essentially everything), Sanders estimates for annual costs compared to that of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and the Urban Institute's analyses.

I play an interview with CATO Institute senior fellow Michael Tanner on his thoughts about Medicare for All.

I also talk to Editor of Mises Wire and The Austrian, Ryan McMaken, about comparisons of Sanders plan to the current Canadian health care plan.

Lastly, I look at an article by Gary Galles who analyzes the true administrative costs of Medicare for All, which shows they are higher than those touted by supporters of the plan.

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/

Enteroviruses are the cause of a number of infections including hand, foot and mouth disease, the common cold and most recently, the condition called Acute flaccid myelitis or AFM.

What are enteroviruses, particularly enterovirus D68, what do we know about them and what research is being done?

Joining me to answer these questions about enteroviruses and more Vincent Racaniello, PhD, Dr Racaniello is a Professor of Microbiology & Immunology in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and a world renown virologist and science educator.

On today's show I look at two topics that are big--one in Africa and one here in the United States--and that's the Ebola outbreak in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the large hepatitis A outbreak in a number of states.

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/

On today's show I look at two topics that are big--one in Africa and one here in the United States--and that's the Ebola outbreak in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the large hepatitis A outbreak in a number of states.

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/

News of North Carolina’s largest chickenpox outbreak since the vaccine was available 23 years ago was reported in an Asheville school, which has grabbed a lot of attention recently. Closer to home, a chickenpox outbreak has been reported in a Polk County, Fl school where a half dozen children were infected. The common denominator among the […]

News of North Carolina's largest chickenpox outbreak since the vaccine was available 23 years ago was reported in an Asheville school, which has grabbed a lot of attention recently.

Closer to home, a chickenpox outbreak has been reported in a Polk County, Fl school where a half dozen children were infected.

The common denominator among the cases is not being vaccinated.

Joining me to talk about chickenpox and why we are still having outbreaks is Amesh Adalja, MD. Dr Adalja is a Senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an infectious disease expert.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Texas Department of Health recently issued health alerts after four infants were hospitalized with botulism after using pacifiers containing honey.

While essentially rare worldwide, ninety percent of the world's cases of infant botulism are diagnosed in the United States, mainly because of physician awareness.

So what is infant botulism and why should infants avoid honey?

Joining me to answer these questions and more is Amesh Adalja, MD. Dr Adalja is a Senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an infectious disease expert.

On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I put together a show on two of the most important and interesting topics in medical history--the 1918 influenza pandemic and the yellow fever outbreak in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries.

These are older; however, very informative interviews.

To discuss the 1918 influenza pandemic is historian and author of the book, The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, John M. Barry.

During the second half, writer and author, Bob Arnebeck joined me to discuss the history of yellow fever in the US in the late 18th century into the 19th century.

The Outbreak News This Week Radio Show is prerecorded every Thursday and airs Sundays at 1 pm ET in the Tampa Bay area and worldwide streaming.

I don't typically put out the podcast of the show until after the show airs; however, I wanted for people to hear this particular show ahead of time.

I was honored to have an in-studio guest this week who had a deeply heartfelt story to tell, which resulted in some very important work in the area of amoeba awareness.

Steve Smelski is the father of Jordan Smelski, who sadly lost his life about four years ago to the devastating parasitic infection, Primary amoebic encephalitis (PAM) caused by the free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri.

Steve graciously and courageously shared with the audience Jordan's story concerning contracting the amoeba and the situation at the hospital.

Steve, along with his wife Shelly also started the Jordan Smelski Foundation for Amoeba Awareness and he discussed some of the great work the foundation is doing for this cause.