Outbreak News Radio

In the second in a series of expert question and answer panels from the International Society of Neglected Tropical Diseases d³ (ISNTD d³) conference in London June 25-26th 2018, The Lancet Global Health's chairs a great panel taking questions on the topic, Sustaining vaccine confidence in a post-truth era. The panel includes Angus Thomson (Sanofi Pasteur), Tikki Pangestu (Lee Kuan Yew School of P...

On today's podcast, I'll be playing an expert question and answer panel from the International Society of Neglected Tropical Diseases d³ (ISNTD d³) conference in London June 25-26th 2018. The Q & A is on the topic, Redefining Access to Medicines and is chaired by Andrew Jack of The Financial Times. Panel participants include: Dr. Beatrice Greco (Merck Global Health Institute), Jeffrey Moe (Duke Gl...

Mosquito borne viruses that infect humans--the number are plenty with Zika, dengue, chikungunya, West Nile and Keystone virus? University of Florida researchers discuss the first human case of Keystone virus in a recent issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. Joining me to talk more about this arbovirus and the first human case in a North Central Florida boy is John Lednicky, Ph. D., Dr Lednicky is...

On today's show we discuss a most interesting parasite, the soil transmitted helminth, Strongyloides stercoralis. This parasite is more commonly found in areas that are relatively warm and moist, in rural areas, and areas associated with agricultural activity, but it can occur anywhere. Strongyloidiasis can be severe and life-threatening in persons who are immunosuppressed where forms of the disea...

Animal viral diseases and spillover to humans results in some of the most important and devastating infections and outbreaks known to humans. My guest today looks at a number of these zoonotic diseases with superb storytelling interwoven with history, virology and public health. The name of the newly published book is titled Animal Viruses and Humans--A Narrow Divide and the author is Dr Warren An...

In the final podcast in our short series on malarial parasites, we're look at the two less common species--P. malariae and P. ovale. In addition, we will spend some time talking about the so called "monkey malaria" or the more common than we thought, Plasmodium knowlesi. Joining me is out go-to parasitology expert, author, Rosemary Drisdelle.

In a follow-up to the podcast last week, Malaria: A general introduction and Plasmodium vivax, I continue the series on the malaria species. On today's show, Parasitology teacher and author, Rosemary Drisdelle, joins me to talk about the deadliest species of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum. P. falciparum can cause severe malaria because it multiples rapidly in the blood, and can thus cause severe a...

We've discussed the use and misuse of antibiotics and antibiotic stewardship a number of times on this show and today we are going to look at the use of vancomycin. Infectious disease physician, Steven LaRosa, MD joins me to talk about vancomycin, evaluating the need to use it, the use of a loading dose and vancomycin dosing and exposure.

On today's show, I talk about Lyme disease, the effects of climate change on the tickborne illness and issues of Lyme medical and public policy with the author of the book, Lyme: The First Epidemic of Climate Change, Mary Beth Pfeiffer. Check out more at The First Epidemic

Malaria is probably the most important parasitic disease affecting man. The parasite belongs to the class Sporozoa and the genus Plasmodium, a name which means multinucleated mass. There are scores of named species of Plasmodium which infect various species of vertebrates. Four species are considered true parasites of humans, as they utilize humans almost exclusively as a natural intermediate host...

In a follow-up to an interview on the dwarf tapeworm, Hymenolepsis nana last week, this week we look a related cestode, the rat tapeworm. Hymenolepis diminuta is a tapeworm that occurs throughout the world. Its principal definitive hosts are rodents. Nevertheless, in rare instances, it can infect humans, typically by accidental ingestion of infected arthropods, often grain beetles. I was joined by...

As the title of the podcast indicates and as regular listeners know, the majority of the time I focus of infectious diseases. However, I do like to dedicate air time to other important health issues, and today's topic is indeed important and unfortunately, all too common-- and thats skin cancer. In fact, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. May is Skin Cancer Awarene...

In our running series on parasites, we're going to look at another tapeworm--The dwarf tapeworm or Hymenolepis nana. Joining me is parasitology expert, author and friend of the show, Rosemary Drisdelle.

Lyme disease season is here. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States, and 300,000 Americans are infected with Lyme disease each year. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and today we'll be discussing Lyme disease prevention, signs and symptoms, and diagnosis and treatment. Joining me to...

On today's podcast we are going to finish up talking about human lice. On the last podcast we looked at head and body lice and we'll tackle pubic lice or crabs on today's show. It doesn't matter what's your status in life, crabs can be found on anyone, anywhere. The pubic louse, Phthirus pubis, is typically found on pubic hair, but can also be found in armpit hair, eyebrows or mustaches and beards...

On today's show we are going to look at some common ectoparasites--lice. According to the CDC, lice are parasitic insects that can be found on people's heads, and bodies, including the pubic area. Human lice survive by feeding on human blood. Lice found on each area of the body are different from each other. The three types of lice that live on humans are head, body and public louse. Head and body...

Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise in the US and testing and treatment, if necessary, is important to prevent the spread of disease. Making lab testing more accessible, reliable and affordable with no need to drive, schedule appointments or wait in line is what myLab Box is all about. myLab Box co-founder, Lora Ivanova joined me on the show to talk about the business, how it works and...

Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by the protozoan parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 3.7 million people have the infection. Joining me today to discuss this protozoa is Parasitology teacher and author of Parasites, Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests, Rosem...

On today's show, we talk about schistosomiasis. Health authorities say more than 200 million people are infected worldwide and in terms of impact, this disease is second only to malaria as the most devastating parasitic disease. My guest, Parasitology teacher and author of the book, Parasites: Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests, Rosemary Drisdelle joined me to discuss the complex life cycle...

Nurse practitioner and President and CEO of Passport Health of Tampa, Dr. Duellyn Pandis joined me in this interview from last summer to catch up on various topics of travel health and medicine. We discussed several travel destinations and the travel issues and advice for each. Dr. Pandis went over in detail the issue with the yellow fever vaccine shortage and the alternatives. In addition, preven...

In this podcast, I pull out two interviews from the past couple years concerning organ donation. The first interview, from June 2016, I am joined by President and Founder of the Living Kidney Donors Network (LKDN) and two-time kidney transplant recipient, Harvey Mysel to discuss kidney paired donations, or paired exchanges and how they work. In the second interview, I speak to LifeLink Foundation'...

In this January 2017 interview, Professor of Law at UC Hastings College of Law, Dorit Rubinstein Reiss, PhD joined me to discuss the types and issues of vaccine exemption, the role and purposes of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act and the corresponding National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and other topics of vaccine law.

Outbreaks of previously unknown viral and other diseases have the potential to inflict serious and massive negative health and economic impact on the world. A new program, a really big idea, is set to start this year and looks to stay one step ahead of this situation identifying viruses in advance and provide timely data for public health interventions against future pandemics. It's called the Glo...

13-year old Olivia Goodreau has been living with Lyme disease for half her life. She joined me today to tell her story from the tick bite to a myriad of symptoms to visiting 51 doctors before being diagnosed with the tick-borne disease. Olivia also talked about her nonprofit organization, LivLyme Foundation, which supports the work of researchers and scientists who are dedicated to finding the eff...

NSF International, a global public health and safety organization, is hosting Legionella Conference 2018 – Managing Legionella and Other Pathogens in Building Water Systems on May 9-11, 2018, in Baltimore, Maryland. The three-day conference is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and marks the first time experts from industry, academia, public health, medicine and government will meet to d...