Outbreak News Radio

Taenia solium is a tapeworm that people get from eating raw or undercooked "measly pork". The pork meat has cysticerci (the larval stage) which in the human intestine mature to an adult tapeworm. Here the tapeworm attaches to the intestine and produces thousands of eggs.

Human cysticercosis occurs either by the direct transfer of Taenia solium eggs from the feces of people harboring an adult worm to their own mouth (autoinfection) or to the mouth of another individual, or indirectly by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the eggs. When the person ingests the eggs, the embryo escape from the shell and penetrates the intestinal wall, gets into the blood vessels, where they spread to muscle, or more seriously, the eyes, heart or brain.

Parasitology teacher and author of the book Parasites: Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests, Rosemary Drisdelle joins to discuss the cestode.

My guest on today's podcast says that while there were many successes in human development in 2017, arguably, the most significant achievements of the last 12 months were in global health.

Public health physician and a vaccinologist, Dr Melvin Sanicas wrote in an article in Project Syndicate that he counted at least 18 unique successes in 2017 and on today's show, we'll touch on several to include India's elimination of trachoma, the battle against polio and the new typhoid vaccine, to name a few.

This podcast is from a February 2015 radio interview with Sybil Meister. Sybil is the mother of  Koral Reef Meister Pier, a young lady from California who contracted the rarely encountered parasite, Balamuthia mandrillaris in March 2013. Unfortunately, Koral lost her battle against the 95% fatal amoeba in Oct. 2014. I had the opportunity and honor to talk to Sybil and […]

This podcast is from a February 2015 radio interview with Sybil Meister. Sybil is the mother of Koral Reef Meister Pier, a young lady from California who contracted the rarely encountered parasite, Balamuthia mandrillaris in March 2013.

Unfortunately, Koral lost her battle against the 95% fatal amoeba in Oct. 2014.

I had the opportunity and honor to talk to Sybil and their family friend, Ebony Parker about Koral's life and her Balamuthia infection.

The internet has been flooded by every possible news source covering a story about a man, who claimed he ate sushi daily, who presented to his doctor a 5 ½ ft long tapeworm. This is from a podcast called “This won’t hurt a bit” where a Fresno California physician told the story. What was this parasite […]

The internet has been flooded by every possible news source covering a story about a man, who claimed he ate sushi daily, who presented to his doctor a 5 ½ ft long tapeworm.

This is from a podcast called "This won't hurt a bit" where a Fresno California physician told the story.

What was this parasite and what other parasitic and bacterial risks are associated with raw sushi?

Joining me to answer these questions is Bobbi Pritt, MD, Dr Pritt is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Director of Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota.

Sadly, as many of you may know, a 6-year-old Eustis, Florida boy lost his battle with rabies earlier this week after contracting the lethal virus through a scratch from a bat. A Orlando hospital and the team of providers attempted the experimental Milwaukee protocol in an attempt to save his life but unfortunately it fell […]

Sadly, as many of you may know, a 6-year-old Eustis, Florida boy lost his battle with rabies earlier this week after contracting the lethal virus through a scratch from a bat.

A Orlando hospital and the team of providers attempted the experimental Milwaukee protocol in an attempt to save his life but unfortunately it fell short.

This is the second human rabies death in the state since October.

So what is rabies and what should you do if you are exposed?

Joining me to answer these questions and more is Peter Costa, MPH. Peter is the rabies immune globulin brand director with Kedrion Biopharma.

Last year, CIDRAP Director Michael Osterholm, PhD along with Mark Olshaker released the very interesting and relevant book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs. I talked to “Bad News Mike” last April on the radio show about some of the most important public health issues addressed in the book to include bioterrorism, vaccines, antibiotic resistance and pandemic […]

Last year, CIDRAP Director Michael Osterholm, PhD along with Mark Olshaker released the very interesting and relevant book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs.

I talked to "Bad News Mike" last April on the radio show about some of the most important public health issues addressed in the book to include bioterrorism, vaccines, antibiotic resistance and pandemic influenza, to name a few.

A great storyteller with vast experience in infectious disease epidemiology, Osterholm covered these topics with experience, zeal, knowledge and never pulling any punches.

As one Amazon reviewer writes: Fabulous read from a great writer/scientist/public health warrior!