Outbreak News Radio

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has been the most outspoken advocate for a single payer health care system in the US, or a "Medicare for all" system. In fact, he is frequently citing the Canadian system as one to emulate.

Straight from his website we learn that Sander's universal single-payer health care means comprehensive coverage for all Americans. Bernie's plan will cover the entire continuum of health care, from inpatient to outpatient care; preventive to emergency care; primary care to specialty care, including long-term and palliative care; vision, hearing and oral health care; mental health and substance abuse services; as well as prescription medications, medical equipment, supplies, diagnostics and treatments.

So what is the differences between Sander's plan and the Canadian system and why are they important?

Editor of Mises Wire and The Austrian, Ryan McMaken joined me to look at this topic.

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide.

This bacterial neglected tropical disease is targeted to be eliminated as a public health problem in 2020.

My guest today says in a post in the blog BugBitten that the future looks bright for trachoma elimination.

Joining me to discuss trachoma , the elimination strategy and the successes we've already seen is Cara MacFarlane, PhD, Dr MacFarlane is with the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group and the COUNTDOWN consortium at LSTM.

Measles, measles and more measles. On today's show, I look at the measles situation here in the states and in Israel and Asia.

I also look at a paper that demonstrates the importance of herd immunity.

I play part of an older interview with an infection preventionist on measles.

I look at some local hepatitis A news, a important Washington Post story on Ebola and the Australian man who died 8 years after contracting rat lungworm.

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/

African swine fever, or ASF, appeared for the first time in China over the summer and since that time, more than 50 outbreaks of ASF have been reported in domestic pigs in 13 provinces of China.

Back in September, the UN warned at the time that the swine fever situation was "just the tip of the iceburg".

In addition, some European countries are reporting ASF in pigs and wild boars.

What is African swine fever, how serious of an issue is it and whats the threat to the US?

Joining me to discuss the African swine fever situation is Stephen Higgs, PhD, Dr Higgs is the director of the Biosecurity Research Institute at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.

African swine fever, or ASF, appeared for the first time in China over the summer and since that time, more than 50 outbreaks of ASF have been reported in domestic pigs in 13 provinces of China.

Back in September, the UN warned at the time that the swine fever situation was "just the tip of the iceburg".

In addition, some European countries are reporting ASF in pigs and wild boars.

What is African swine fever, how serious of an issue is it and whats the threat to the US?

Joining me to discuss the African swine fever situation is Stephen Higgs, PhD, Dr Higgs is the director of the Biosecurity Research Institute at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.

Crazy things in the media this week, and it's not politics--that's one of the major things I look at on the show today--anti-vaxx article being pulled and the massive Twitter backlash, fear mongering, buffoonish statements concerning infectious diseases crossing the US-Mexico border and warnings not to dress up your chickens for Halloween.

In addition, I look at some dengue vaccine news, malaria's rise in Papua New Guinea, typhus in LA and some thoughts from CDC director, Dr Robert Redfield and what keeps him up at night.

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/

A rehab facility in Haskell NJ has been in the news cycle for the past week as they deal with an adenovirus outbreak. To date, 26 cases have been reported, primarily pediatric patients and nine have died.

What is adenovirus and why the high percentage of deaths in this outbreak?

Joining me to answer these questions is Amesh Adalja, MD. Dr Adalja is a Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.

I recently read a report from India about miners in certain areas of the country coming down with a condition called silicosis.

Demand from India's booming construction industry for granite, sandstone and other minerals has seen the commissioning of more and more stone quarries and people to work in the quarries.

What is silicosis and how common is it here in the United States?

Joining me today to talk about silicosis is Cedric "Jamie" Rutland, M.D., Dr Rutland is a Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician and a National Volunteer Medical Spokesperson for the American Lung Association.

On today's show, I look at a wide range of important infectious disease news to include hepatitis A and the current situation in Florida and Pinellas County in particular. In addition, I look at the deadly adenovirus outbreak in a New Jersey rehab facility.

With Halloween just a few days away, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns of the health risks of novelty contact lenses and we dive into that topic.

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreaks are being reported in several schools on the east coast and I discuss the contagious viral infection is some detail.

In addition to all this, I look at another gubernatorial candidate who has a particular view on vaccines and was quoted as saying--"We shouldn't be dumping a lot of drugs into these kids for no reason".

I also take a look at some of the outbreak news coming out of Europe.

On today's show I spend a lot of time looking at the flu shot/flu season in light of the recent pediatric death reported here in Florida. I look at some disturbing trends and beliefs when it comes to flu shots and vaccines in general.

Does the flu shot cause the flu? A survey by Orlando Health says half of parents believe this! In addition, a CS Mott study shows that 1 in 25 parents had postponed a vaccine due to child's fear.

I also look at a fantastic commentary on vaccine misinformation in the journal, Nature.

In the second half, I look at the latest from the CDC on the acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) situation in the United States in 2018.