Outbreak News Radio

It is estimated that as many as 1 in 200 children are affected by PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), according to the PANDAS Network.

In this Feb. 2016 interview, Executive Director for the PANDAS Network, JC Konecny joined me to talk about PANDAS and PANS, the course of the illness, and the diagnosis and treatment of this pediatric disease.

Many experts say a flu pandemic is clearly on the horizon, so the question is–  Are we ready for a flu pandemic? My guest today says- not so much -as he outlined in a NY Times op-ed earlier this week. CIDRAP director,  Michael Osterholm PhD joined me to discuss his views on why he believes […]

Many experts say a flu pandemic is clearly on the horizon, so the question is-- Are we ready for a flu pandemic?

My guest today says- not so much -as he outlined in a NY Times op-ed earlier this week.

CIDRAP director, Michael Osterholm PhD joined me to discuss his views on why he believes we are woefully unprepared for the coming flu pandemic.

Taeniasis is a parasitic disease due to infection with tapeworms belonging to the genus Taenia.

Three tapeworm species cause taeniasis in humans, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica.

On today's show, I will be talking to my guest, Parasitology teacher, author and friend of the show, Rosemary Drisdelle about the beef tapeworm, Taenia saginata.

The latest report from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative shows that 21 wild poliovirus cases were reported in 2017 from two countries--Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The question some are asking is --Is 2018 the year we make history and see zero cases of polio?

Rotary International has been integral in this amazing success in the battle against polio.

The Director of the PolioPlus program at Rotary International, Carol Pandak joined me to discuss Rotary International's role in this success then and now.

Fads and movements on what we do and don’t put in our bodies seem to plague the US and latest one has originated out of California. There has been a huge demand in Silicon Valley for very expensive “raw water”. Raw water is supposedly unfiltered, untreated, unsterilized spring water according to a NY Times report. […]

Fads and movements on what we do and don't put in our bodies seem to plague the US and latest one has originated out of California.

There has been a huge demand in Silicon Valley for very expensive "raw water". Raw water is supposedly unfiltered, untreated, unsterilized spring water according to a NY Times report.

The rationale is that the existing water supply and tap water has many chemicals and pollutants and naturally occurring minerals that are filtered out when water is treated.

What about this trendy fad and what are the health risks?

Amesh Adalja, MD joined me to talk about raw water. Dr Adalja is a Senior Associate with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

In this podcast from a Outbreak News This Week Radio Show interview from Jun. 2016, we examine the ABCs of the extremely contagious viral disease, measles.

I am joined by registered nurse, infection control specialist and a freelance writer, Erin Archer Kelser. Erin discusses the history of measles in the United States, symptomology, complications, the vaccine and much, much more.

The successes of vaccines in the battle with infectious diseases is quite clear with the dramatic drop in measles deaths, the elimination of smallpox and the near elimination of polio, just to name a few.

However, there is a growing anti-vaccine movement despite this and my guest, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, Peter Hotez, MD, PhD says the gains made by the use of vaccines is fragile and has been "sounding the alarm" over this.

Dr Hotez talks about his concerns over this movement in the US and fears the export to large middle- and low-middle income nations such as Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Russia.

He also talks about what steps need to be taken to "snuff it out".

Antibiotic resistance, Sexually transmitted diseases,Vaccine preventable diseases and septic shock. These important infectious disease topics and others were featured in a recent "Year-in-review"article on Forbes entitled, Infectious Disease Roundup 2017 -- The Year In Review .

The author, infectious disease physician Judy Stone, MD, joined me to give her thoughts-- scientific, medical and political-- on these issues.