References

1. LaCapria K. Spain records first death as rare tick‑borne Crimean‑Congo fever appears in local cases. Yahoo News. Published July 24, 2026. Accessed August 2, 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/spain-records-first-death-rare-173100593.html

2. Reid R. Crimea‑Congo fever case confirmed in Puertollano, patient transferred to Madrid. Russpain.com. Published July 31, 2026. Accessed August 2, 2026. https://russpain.com/news/crimea-congo-fever-case-confirmed-in-puertollano-patient-transferred-to-madrid-76847

3. Spengler JR, Bergeron É, Rollin PE (2016) Seroepidemiological Studies of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Domestic and Wild Animals. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 10(1): e0004210. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004210

4. Nabeth P, Cheikh DO, Lo B, et al. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Mauritania. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004;10(12):2143-2149. doi:10.3201/eid1012.040535

5. Alhilfi RA, Khaleel HA, Raheem BM, Mahdi SG, Tabche C, Rawaf S. Large outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Iraq, 2022. IJID Reg. 2023 Jan 18;6:76-79. doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.01.007. PMID: 36818019; PMCID: PMC9931897.

6. Pshenichnaya N, Aslanov B, Melnik V, Ermakova L. Review of the incidence of Crimean‑Congo hemorrhagic fever for 17.5 years in 2005–1/2 2022 based on ProMED‑RUS reports. Int J Infect Dis.

7. Mohney, G. (2026, July). Invasive "yellow fever" mosquito newly found in Castro Valley. SFGATE/MSN.

8. Orellana, F. (2026, July 30). Chile issues first-ever preventive hantavirus health alert. UPI/MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/chile-issues-first-ever-preventive-hantavirus-health-alert/ar-AA294wEM

9. Binder, J. (2026, July 24). Usutu virus probably cause of dead blackbirds in Munich. BR24. https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/usutu-virus-wohl-ursache-fuer-tote-amseln-in-muenchen,VQHiJP8

10. Binder, J. (2026, July 24). Usutu virus probably cause of dead blackbirds in Munich. BR24. https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/usutu-virus-wohl-ursache-fuer-tote-amseln-in-muenchen,VQHiJP8

11. Mail & Guardian. (2018, March 23). White genocide: How the big lie spread to the US and beyond.

12. Beirich, H. (2018, August 23). President Trump is stoking white nationalism, exploiting racist fear. Southern Poverty Law Center.

13. Fiore, K. (2026, July). Leadership shakeup at CDC's Ebola response team. MedPage Today/MSN.

14. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/leadership-shakeup-at-cdcs-ebola-response-team/ar-AA290sEN

15. Jovanovic, D. (2026, July 17). 7 Americans at US‑backed Ebola isolation facility in Kenya, charity group says. ABC News. https://abcnews.com/International/7-americans-us-backed-ebola-isolation-facility-kenya/story?id=134861044

16. Evolve Editors. Donald Trump takes action to stop deadly Ebola threat after CDC warning. Yahoo News. July 21, 2026. Accessed August 3, 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/donald-trump-takes-action-stop-135408994.html

References

1. Chin J. CDC warns about likely COVID‑19 surge in summer. Taipei Times. July 15, 2026. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/07/15/2003860776

2. Institut National de Santé Publique. SitRep N°060/MVB — 13 July 2026. Published July 14, 2026. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://insp.cd/sitrep-n060-mvb-13-07-2026

3. Al Jazeera Staff; AFP; AP; Reuters. WHO warns DR Congo Ebola outbreak may be double the official tally. Yahoo News. Published July 14, 2026. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/warns-dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-130734863.html

4. Al Jazeera Staff; AFP; AP; Reuters. WHO warns DR Congo Ebola outbreak may be double the official tally. MSN News. Published July 14, 2026. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/who-warns-dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-may-be-double-the-official-tally/ar-AA27T2vZ

5. Soucheray S. Cambodia confirms human H5N1 avian flu case as H5N1 hits more Utah egg farms. CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy). Published July 16, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/cambodia-confirms-human-h5n1-avian-flu-case-h5n1-hits-more-utah-egg-farms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: Interim Recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations. Published December 26, 2024. Accessed July 15, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/hpai-interim-recommendations.html

6. Mole B. US continues to shun Ebola-infected citizens; second American sent to Germany. Ars Technica. Published July 13, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/07/us-continues-to-shun-ebola-infected-citizens-second-american-sent-to-germany/

7. Robles C. Cambodia reports H5N1 bird flu in 9-month-old girl; 5th case this year. BNO News. Published July 11, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026. https://bnonews.com/index.php/2026/07/cambodia-reports-h5n1-bird-flu-in-9-month-old-girl-5th-case-this-year/

Transcript with references: link

Sounds

Intro and Outro - stolen from In Search of

transporter beam by Owdeo (Freesound.org)

References

1. Muniroh M, Hermawati L, Fathurrohim F, et al. Ebola virus disease: A persistent challenge in global health security. Open Vet J. 2026;16(2):768-787. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i2.1

2. Matson MJ, Chertow DS, Munster VJ. Ebola Virus Disease: Uniquely Challenging Among the Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025;12(8):ofaf464. Published 2025 Aug 2. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofaf464

3. MacNeil A, Farnon EC, Wamala J, et al. Proportion of deaths and clinical features in Bundibugyo Ebola virus infection, Uganda. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010;16(12):1969-1972. doi:10.3201/eid1612.100627

4. Towner JS, Sealy TK, Khristova ML, et al. Newly discovered ebola virus associated with hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Uganda. PLoS Pathog. 2008;4(11):e1000212. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000212

5. Wamala JF, Lukwago L, Malimbo M, et al. Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Associated with Novel Virus Strain, Uganda, 2007–2008. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2010;16(7):1087-1092. doi:10.3201/eid1607.091525.

6. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON612

7. Umar SK, Diggle MA. The Ebola virus - going beyond the bleeding edge. J Med Microbiol. 2025;74(7):001998. doi:10.1099/jmm.0.001998

8. France 24. France's first detected Ebola patient recovers, leaves hospital. France 24. Published July 4, 2026. Accessed July 8, 2026. https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260704-france-first-detected-ebola-patient-recovers-leaves-hospital

9. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS

10. https://www.who.int/emergencies/alert-and-response

11. Brown, K. (2004). Penicillin Man: Alexander Fleming and the Antibiotic Revolution. 320 pp. Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3152-3.

In which I try to point out bigger problems

Sounds

Intro and Outro - stolen from In Search of

transporter beam by Owdeo (Freesound.org)

References

Lindsay JA. Staphylococci: Evolving Genomes. Microbiol Spectr. 2019;7(6):10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0071-2019. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0071-2019

https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/php/data/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Four pediatric deaths from community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — Minnesota and North Dakota, 1997-1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1999;48(32):707-710.

Gualandi N, Mu Y, Bamberg WM, et al. Racial Disparities in Invasive Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections, 2005-2014. Clin Infect Dis. 2018;67(8):1175-1181. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy277

Medicare Care Compare - https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/

Twitter: @TracksideScien1

Instagram: Tracksidescience

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tracksidescience

Credits:

Opening and closing - Lewis, W. M., & Rinder, L. (1976). Theme from In Search Of… [Television series theme music]. On In Search Of… (Original television broadcast).

Native American Flute: Native American Flute Western CarlosCarty Freesound.org

Where do ideas come from? Rob describes his Big A Eureka Moment. 2025 Jeff wants to tell 2000's Jeff to suck it up and stop complaining. We both love people who are generous with their ideas.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram & Bluesky: Tracksidescience

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tracksidescience

Alcohol

Jeff: Primary: When Lava Flows by Pontoon Brewing - Sandy Springs GA

Solid Rocket Booster: The Right Slice by Revision Brewing - Sparks NV

Rob: Laser Kitten IPA by Medusa Brewing, Hudson MA

Reading

Jeff: The Power Broker

Rob: Can science comics aid lay audiences' comprehension of forensic science?

Philatelic Science! Rob's box of stamps generates some science ideas! Wisconsin has indicted a DNA sequence. Jeff is suddenly bro-ing all the time.

Email - [email protected]

Bluesky - ‪@tracksidescience.bsky.social‬

Instagram - tracksidescience

Alcohol

Jeff - 1800 Tequila & Cointreau - Bing's AI tells me this is a Conintreau Margartia. Thank god for AI

Rob - GnomeGang Belgian IPA

Links

Macht SH. Postage stamps as a mode of transmitting bacteria. Va Med Mon (1918). 1946 Feb;73:60. PMID: 21011507. (link)

Hopkins B, Williams NJ, Webb MB, Debenham PG, Jeffreys AJ. The use of minisatellite variant repeat-polymerase chain reaction (MVR-PCR) to determine the source of saliva on a used postage stamp. J Forensic Sci. 1994 Mar;39(2):526-31. PMID: 8195763. (link)

https://www.totheletterdna.com/

Keepsake DNA, renamed GEnetic Legacies: https://geneticlegacies.com/

Affinity-DNA: https://www.affinity-dna.com/

Dudás E, Csany M, Galambos A, Vágó-Zalán A, Pamjav H. DNA identification of relics of Blessed Stephen Sándor beatified by Pope Francis 2013. Biol Futur. 2020 Jun;71(1-2):131-136. doi: 10.1007/s42977-020-00002-y. Epub 2020 Feb 20. PMID: 34554521. (link)

Bates, Claire. "Who Were My Parents—and Why Was I Left on a Hillside to Die?" BBC News, 18 Mar. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/stories-43420678

(2018) Wisconsin indicts a DNA sequence: https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/dna_from_stamp_is_used_to_indict_john_doe_suspect_for_threatening_judge

The moronic, mean-spirited and illegal assault on US government scientists continues.

To those recently, and illegally, fired. Contains some strong language, because that is 100% appropriate.