Outbreak News Interviews

News of North Carolina’s largest chickenpox outbreak since the vaccine was available 23 years ago was reported in an Asheville school, which has grabbed a lot of attention recently. Closer to home, a chickenpox outbreak has been reported in a Polk County, Fl school where a half dozen children were infected. The common denominator among the […] The post Chickenpox outbreak in an Asheville school: A ‘viral exchange center’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Texas Department of Health recently issued health alerts after four infants were hospitalized with botulism after using pacifiers containing honey. While essentially rare worldwide, ninety percent of the world’s cases of infant botulism are diagnosed in the United States, mainly because of physician awareness. So what is infant […] The post Infant botulism and honey pacifiers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I put together a show on two of the most important and interesting topics in medical history–the 1918 influenza pandemic and the yellow fever outbreak in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. These are older; however, very informative interviews. To discuss the 1918 influenza pandemic is historian […] The post Medical history: 1918 influenza pandemic, Yellow fever in the US in the 18th and 19th centuries appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Outbreak News This Week Radio Show is prerecorded every Thursday and airs Sundays at 1 pm ET in the Tampa Bay area and worldwide streaming. I don’t typically put out the podcast of the show until after the show airs; however, I wanted for people to hear this particular show ahead of time. I was […] The post Naegleria fowleri and the Jordan Smelski Foundation for Amoeba Awareness appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has been the most outspoken advocate for a single payer health care system in the US, or a “Medicare for all” system. In fact, he is frequently citing the Canadian system as one to emulate. Straight from his website we learn that Sander’s universal single-payer health care means comprehensive coverage for […] The post Bernie Sanders single payer health plan vs. the Canadian system: Some significant differences appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. This bacterial neglected tropical disease is targeted to be eliminated as a public health problem in 2020. My guest today says in a post in the blog BugBitten that the future looks bright for trachoma elimination. Joining me to discuss trachoma , the elimination strategy and the […] The post Trachoma: The SAFE strategy, the successes and a look forward to elimination appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Measles, measles and more measles. On today’s show, I look at the measles situation here in the states and in Israel and Asia. I also look at a paper that demonstrates the importance of herd immunity. I play part of an older interview with an infection preventionist on measles. I look at some local hepatitis […] The post Outbreak News This Week Radio Show 11-18-18 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

African swine fever, or ASF, appeared for the first time in China over the summer and since that time, more than 50 outbreaks of ASF have been reported in domestic pigs in 13 provinces of China. Back in September, the UN warned at the time that the swine fever situation was “just the tip of […] The post African swine fever, China and the risk to the US appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Crazy things in the media this week, and it’s not politics–that’s one of the major things I look at on the show today–anti-vaxx article being pulled and the massive Twitter backlash, fear mongering, buffoonish statements concerning infectious diseases crossing the US-Mexico border and warnings not to dress up your chickens for Halloween. In addition, I […] The post Outbreak News This Week Radio Show 11-4-18 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A rehab facility in Haskell NJ has been in the news cycle for the past week as they deal with an adenovirus outbreak. To date, 26 cases have been reported, primarily pediatric patients and nine have died. What is adenovirus and why the high percentage of deaths in this outbreak? Joining me to answer these questions […] The post Adenovirus: What is it and why the high percentage of deaths in the NJ outbreak? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

I recently read a report from India about miners in certain areas of the country coming down with a condition called silicosis. Demand from India’s booming construction industry for granite, sandstone and other minerals has seen the commissioning of more and more stone quarries and people to work in the quarries. What is silicosis and […] The post Silicosis: What is it and how common is it in the US? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On today’s show, I look at a wide range of important infectious disease news to include hepatitis A and the current situation in Florida and Pinellas County in particular. In addition, I look at the deadly adenovirus outbreak in a New Jersey rehab facility. With Halloween just a few days away, the Centers for Disease […] The post Outbreak News This Week Radio Show 10-28-18 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On today’s show I spend a lot of time looking at the flu shot/flu season in light of the recent pediatric death reported here in Florida. I look at some disturbing trends and beliefs when it comes to flu shots and vaccines in general. Does the flu shot cause the flu? A survey by Orlando […] The post Outbreak New This Week Radio Show 10-21-18 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A mosquito-borne parasitic disease, lymphatic filariasis is one of nearly two dozen neglected tropical diseases.  Infection is usually acquired in childhood and causes hidden damage to the lymphatic system. The painful and profoundly disfiguring visible manifestations of the disease, notably lymphoedema, elephantiasis and scrotal swelling, occur later in life and lead to permanent disability. In some exciting […] The post Lymphatic filariasis elimination: ‘The Government of Vietnam really deserve congratulations’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A hernia is a common medical condition that happens when part of an internal organ or tissue pushes through a weak area of muscle, creating a bulge. It is caused by a combination of muscle weakness and straining, like lifting something heavy. Most hernias occur in the abdomen, between the chest and the hips, and […] The post Hernias 101: What are they, who’s at risk and more appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On today’s show, I look at some various topics popular in the infectious disease news circles including Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). This story has dominated the news this cycle ever since the cases out of Minnesota were reported. Since then, cases from Texas, New York, Washington, Colorado and others have made the headlines. Earlier this […] The post Outbreak News This Week Radio Show 10-14-18 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Balamuthia mandrillarisis a free-living ameba that can cause a serious encephalitis infection of the brain. It is thought to enter the body when soil containing Balamuthia comes in contact with skin wounds and cuts, or when dust containing Balamuthia is breathed in or gets in the mouth. More than 200 cases of Balamuthia infection have been diagnosed worldwide and according to […] The post Balamuthia, neti pots and a unique case report appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Minnesota state health officials reported recently on a number of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) cases in children that occurred in the past month. What is acute flaccid myelitis and what is the situation in Minnesota? Joining me today to discuss this important topic is Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH. Dr Osterholm is the Director of the Center […] The post Acute flaccid myelitis in Minnesota: An interview with Michael Osterholm, PhD appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study led by a Tulane University researcher and recently published in the journal, Lancet Infectious Diseases, could change the way doctors treat the common, sexually transmitted parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. Joining me today to talk about trichomoniasis and the new study is the lead author, infectious disease epidemiologist at the Tulane University School of Public Health and […] The post Trichomonas vaginalis treatment: New research shows multi-dose metronidazole is better in women appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

It was a huge news week in infectious disease and we cover some of the biggest stories here on the show today. I go over the odd report on a father-to-son HIV transmission in a very atypical way. The study was published in the journal, AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. Another unusual  report came from researchers […] The post Outbreak News This Week: October 7, 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.