Outbreak News Radio

Have you ever received a hospital bill and couldn't quite figure out how it could possibly be that expensive?

I recently had a same day surgery at a local hospital which had a price tag of $47,000.

Fortunately for me, a contract with my health insurance negotiated the cost down to $6,000. How is this possible? Whats wrong with the system? What about the self-pay patient?

Joining me to discuss this bizarre system is Keith Smith, MD, Dr Smith is the medical director, CEO and managing partner of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma.

On the September 9 airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, I am joined by two great guests.

In the first half, practicing infectious disease physician, Associate Professor of Medicine with the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Toronto and CEO of BlueDot, Dr Kamran Khan joined me to talk about some current and past outbreaks and the work of BlueDot.

The second half of the show featured an interview with University of Minnesota Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Michael Osterholm, Ph.D., MPH. Dr Osterholm came on to discuss the formation of a Fresh Express Blue-Ribbon Panel to study the Cyclospora parasite. In addition, I get his thoughts on a recent New York Times article about China withholding H7N9 avian flu samples.

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/

What is sexually transmitted disease (STD) contraction law? Is against the law for a person to knowingly infect someone or put someone at risk for contracting a STD?

These and other questions are answered when I talk to leading STD contraction lawyer, Todd Kelly. Mr Kelly is an attorney with The Carlson Law Firm based out of Texas.

Federal and state health officials have been investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to salad mixes distributed to McDonald's by the Fresh Express since mid July.

The latest numbers from the CDC put the parasite outbreak total to over 500 cases from 16 states. Fresh Express pulled the salad mix during the last week of July from McDonald's.

Last month, John P. Olivo, President, Fresh Express, announced the formation of a Fresh Express Blue-Ribbon Panel to study the Cyclospora parasite.

The appointed chair of this panel is University of Minnesota Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Michael Osterholm, Ph.D., MPH. And he is my guest today.

In addition, I get Dr Osterholm's thoughts on a recent New York Times article about China withholding H7N9 avian flu samples.

Timely global surveillance of infectious disease threats around the world is critical for governments, healthcare organizations and businesses as they need actionable intelligence.

BlueDot is a company that that does just that.

Joining me to talk about some current and past outbreaks and the work of BlueDot is CEO Dr. Kamran Khan. In addition, Dr Khan is a practicing infectious disease physician and an Associate Professor of Medicine with the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Toronto.

Fluoroquinolones are a type of antibiotic that is an important part of a physicians prescribing arsenal.

However, they do carry with them some serious side effects and according to a new study published in the journal, Clinical Infectious Diseases, fluoroquinolones are commonly prescribed for conditions when antibiotics are not needed at all, or when they are not the recommended first-line therapy.

Joining me to talk about fluoroquinolones and the study's findings is infectious disease physician and friend of the show, Steven LaRosa, MD.

Rabies has been a topic several times on the radio show where I looked at a variety of topics related to this lethal virus.

On the return to the airwaves of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show Sunday, I look at rabies with a different set of topics--some history, some mythology and public health and diagnostics.

Texas State University Program Chair for the Clinical Laboratory Science Program and friend of the show, Rodney Rohde, PhD joined me to discuss these rabies topics.

Monkeypox is a rare viral disease that occurs mainly in the rain forest countries of central and west Africa. The disease was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in 1958.

In 1970, monkeypox was reported in humans for the first time. In June 2003, monkeypox was reported in prairie dogs and humans in the United States.

Joining me today for a primer on monkeypox is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Epidemiology at the Yale schools of Medicine and Public health and author of the book, Animal Viruses and Humans--A Narrow Divide, Warren Andiman, MD.

A relatively new advanced degree is now available at select institutions for Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS), or Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS), and that's the Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS).

Texas State University Program Chair for the Clinical Laboratory Science Program, Rodney Rohde, PhD joins me on the show to talk about this exciting new degree for practicing CLSs who wish to further their level of clinical expertise and to develop leadership and management skills.

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi; the diseases can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another. Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases of animals that can cause disease when transmitted to humans. Infectious disease medicine requires an extensive understanding of the way in which bacterial, […]