Outbreak News Interviews

The warm weather of summer is upon us, people will spend more time doing outdoor activities, as will potentially dangerous pathogens carrying critters like mosquitoes and ticks. My guest today will discuss the risks mosquitoes and ticks pose to Americans across the country. In addition, she'll explain how the public can best protect ourselves and family members from these bloodthirsty pests. Joining me today is Lee Haines, PhD, Dr Haines is medical entomologist and Associate Research Professor at the Department of Biological Science at the University of Notre Dame.

Antimicrobial resistance is a rising global threat. When these become ineffective, infections can become difficult or impossible to treat, leading to an increase in the spread and severity of disease. In a new study, published in Nature Medicine, a team of researchers at the Center for Phage Biology and Therapy at Yale discovered a novel approach that may revolutionize the fight against antimicrobial resistance. In the study, the research team investigated the use of phage therapy—the use of viruses, or phages, to target and kill bacteria—to help patients with cystic fibrosis, a disease in which antimicrobial resistance is a significant issue. The team pioneered a strategy to select phages that not only kill bacteria that cause infections but also weaken surviving bacteria to become less virulent or less resistant to antibiotics. Joining me today to discuss phage therapy and their research is Jon Koff, MD, Dr. Koff is an associate professor in Yale School of Medicine's Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine and medical director of the Center for Phage Biology and Therapy.   Check out the paper: Phage Therapy May Treat Drug Resistance in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis, Study Finds   Watch the video version at Outbreak News TV

On today's show, I want to take a look at three news stories about rabies recently and have my expert guest break them down. I want to look at the fatal case in a organ transplant recipient, catching rabies from cow's milk and the upsurge in positive raccoons in Quebec. Joining me today is Charles E. Rupprecht, VMD, MS, PhD. Dr Rupprecht is the CEO of Lyssa LLC, a biomedical consulting company and among many prestigious positions, he was the Chief of the Rabies Program at the CDC for nearly 20 years. Watch the video version at Outbreak News TV

In today's news report, I give an update on the measles situation in the three major countries of North America--the United States, Canada and Mexico. Watch the video version on Outbreak News TV

In this news cast, I look at the latest numbers from the measles outbreak in the United States through March 15 this year. For the video version, see Outbreak News TV

In today's news cast, I take a look at the dramatic increases in locally acquired chikungunya virus cases on Reunion Island, off the African coast in the Indian Ocean. Watch video version at Outbreak News TV

Today I want to take a look at the Basic Reproduction Number, or R0 (r-naught). We saw this term become more commonplace in the news and other talk during the COVID-19 pandemic. What is R0 and what does it mean? How do public health officials come up with this number? What are the limitations? And how is it used in everyday public health? Joining me to offer some clarity on R0 is Chandana Bala. Chandy is a science writer for Gideon Informatics. Watch the video at Outbreak News TV

In this short podcast, I look at the latest numbers for Lyme disease in Maine for 2024. Watch the video version at Outbreak News TV

In this short podcast, I look at the pertussis outbreak in the United States in 2024, the most cases in more than a decade. Watch the video version at Outbreak News TV

In this short podcast, I look at the situation with Guinea Worm disease (GWD) in 2024, the progress made and other diseases that have been eradicated or are closing in on eradication. Watch the video version at Outbreak News TV

On today's Livestream special, the topic will be polio. We'll look at, among other things- history, vaccines and the current global situation and the challenges. Joining me will be two great guests to look at this important topic I have first time guest, Andrea Prinzi, PhD. Dr Prinzi is a field medical director of U.S. medical affairs with bioMérieux, Inc And I also have returning guest and friend to the show, Rodney Rohde, PhD. Dr Rohde is the Associate Director of the Translational Health Research Initiative at Texas State University. Check out Drs Prinzi's and Rohde's article: Polio's Last Stand: The Global Fight for Eradication Watch the video version at Outbreak News TV

Officials with the Florida Department of Health reported four additional locally transmitted dengue fever cases in Miami-Dade County during the last week of November. This brings the total autochthonous cases to 70 in the state since the beginning of the year. Watch the video version at Outbreak News TV

After recording just six cases of polio, wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in 2023, Pakistan has already reached at least 59 polio cases this year, with a month still left to go. In this podcast, I look at the current situation in Pakistan, the stumbling blocks and a brief history of polio. Watch the video version at Outbreak News TV

Researchers from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences are closer to developing an oral vaccine for anthrax as demonstrated in a study published earlier this year in the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife medicine. Joining me to discuss this development is Chase Nunez, MS PhD, Jamie Benn, PhD, AWB and Walter Cook, Phd, DVM. To watch the video version- go to Outbreak News TV

My guest today asks the question, What should be done with Obamacare? This comes as Democratic subsidies and the Trump tax cuts are getting closer to expiring. He makes a case for reform. Joining me today is John C Goodman, PhD. Dr Goodman is president and CEO of the Goodman institute for Public Policy Research, a think tank focused on public policy issues. He is also author of a number of notable books to include Priceless, A Better Choice and of course Patient Power, among others.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reports investigating two unrelated cases of Baylisascaris procyonis (raccoon roundworm) in children residing in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. On today's show, I will talk a little about the little known and very dangerous raccoon roundworm.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found nearly a third of American adults have a tattoo and almost a quarter have more than one. Today, I'd like to look at some things to consider when deciding on a tattoo-- what risks are there when getting a tattoo and how should you take care of it afterwards? Joining me today to discuss these issues is Adam Friedman, MD. Dr Friedman is a professor and the chair of dermatology at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Watch the video interview at Outbreak News TV

The recent Listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats have received much national attention. Besides a massive recall of more than 7 million pounds of deli meat, this has been the largest Listeria outbreak in the US in more than a decade. Joining me today to talk about listeria and the outbreak is Brenda Wilson, PhD. Dr Wilson is a professor of microbiology and adjunct professor of pathobiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Watch the video version on YouTube  

In this podcast, I look at the recent report of a human rabies case reported in Ontario, Canada. Watch the video version on Outbreak News TV

A few weeks ago, the CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify healthcare providers, public health authorities, and the public about current increases in human parvovirus B19 activity in the United States. So what is Parvovirus B19 and why this alert? Joining me today to discuss the viral disease is Judy Stone, MD. Judy is an infectious disease specialist and a longtime contributor to Forbes.com.  

In this Outbreak Newscast, I go over the most recent human influenza A variant virus, or "swine flu" cases reported in the US. I also talk about some information about the viruses and things you can do to prevent infection.

On this episode of Outbreak News This Week, I look at several stories on mosquito-borne diseases, in light of World Mosquito Day on August 20, the latest on H5N1 avian influenza and Legionnaires' disease.

On today's podcast, we're going to look at a parasite that is relatively common in people, however, and fortunately, actual disease is rare. And that parasite is Toxoplasma gondii. Joining me today for a Toxoplasmosis 101 is Fatima Khan. Fatima is a parasitologist who hails from Islamabad , Pakistan and she has written about parasites for several media outlets.

On today's newscast, I look at four of the biggest outbreak news stories of the week ending August 17-Mpox, Polio in Gaza, Oropouche fever and Parvovirus B19.

Oropouche fever is piercing the sphere of mainstream media this year as thousands of cases of the vector borne disease have been reported in the Caribbean and South America. Joining me today for a Q&A on Oropouche fever is Karina Mondragon-Shem, PhD. Dr Mondragon-Shem is a vector biologist who specializes in the ecoepidemiology and social impact of tropical diseases. Oropouche fever: from rainforests to clinics

In this outbreak newscast, I look at the current outbreak of Chandipura virus in Gujarat, India, and go over some history and other information on the virus.

On today's newscast, I look at the West Nile virus outbreak in Israel this year.

In today's newscast, I look at the latest about the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Melbourne, Australia.

In this newscast, I look at the latest out of Nigeria concerning the growing cholera outbreak

In this short podcast, I take you back 40 years ago in the US to what is considered to be the first confirmed instance of chemical or biological terrorism to have occurred in the United States.

On today's podcast the topic is meningococcal meningitis. A new article by Drs. Andrea Prinzi and Rodney Rohde published on the American Society for Microbiology website discusses several aspects of the dangerous bacterial disease, plus it is chock full of interesting history. Joining me today to talk about meningococcal meningitis is Rodney Rohde, PhD. Dr Rohde is the Associate Director of the Translational Health Research Initiative at Texas State University.  

In today's news report, I look at the latest on the Oropouche virus outbreak affecting countries of the Americas. In addition, I look at the latest report from the PAHO concerning the investigation of possible vertical transmission of Oropouche reported in Brazil.

In this short informational podcast, I look at the parasitic disease, anisakiasis, which you can contract via raw seafood.

On today's podcast I am joined by Scott O'Neill, PhD, scientist and CEO of the World Mosquito Program. In this interview, Dr. O'Neill discusses the ins and outs of the Wolbachia Method and the work of the World Mosquito Program in the battle against mosquito-borne diseases. World Mosquito Program

Officials in Kerala state in southern India are reporting a fatal case of Nipah virus infection in a 14-year-old boy from Mallapuram district in Kerala.

In today's newscast, I look at an outbreak of cryptosporidium linked to raccoons at a Illinois wildlife rehab facility. I also talk a bit about the parasite.

In this short informational podcast, I look briefly at the health risks of aflatoxins.

With one-third of the households in the United States having cats as pets totally approximately 60 million, human exposure to cats can occasionally result in a variety of infections. In this short podcast, I look at some of the infections you can get from cats.

In this podcast, I summarize some of the infections you can get from dogs.

In this newscast, I look at the hantavirus situation in Arizona and things you can do to prevent this serious infection.

In this newscast, I look at the first human West Nile virus infection/death in Oklahoma and discuss a little about the disease.

In this newscast, I look at the increasing trend in malaria cases in Ethiopia.

In this newscast, I look at some recent stories about outbreaks in South Korea and Italy, and the news from Hillevax about their vaccine for infants that did not meet its primary and secondary efficacy endpoints.

In this newscast, I look at the parasitic disease, leishmaniasis and the current situation in Colombia.

In this newscast, I look at a human plague case reported in Pueblo County, Colorado.

In this informational podcast episode, I look at one of the childhood skin rash diseases- Roseola or Sixth disease.

In today's newscast, I report on the recent case of infection with the parasite, Naegleria fowleri in Israel.

In this newscast, I look at the current dengue fever situation in the state of Florida, go over some Florida dengue history and talk about the ABCs of the disease itself.

In this newscast, I look at the latest with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Florida.

In this newscast, I look at the unusual increase in histoplasmosis cases among dogs and cats in Los Angeles County, California.

In this podcast, I look at Enterobius vermicularis, or pinworms, in response to a viral and dramatic TikTok video recently published.