Outbreak News Interviews

7 locally transmitted malaria cases have been reported in the US (Texas and Florida), a first in quite a few years.

The species of malaria has been identified as Plasmodium vivax, one of 5 plasmodium species that can infect humans.

What is malaria?, what is Plasmodium vivax?, how important is this transmission and how to prevent it?

These and other questions will be posed to my guest today.

Joining me today is Brian Grimberg, PhD. Dr. Grimberg is an Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a prominent malaria researcher.

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Summer vacation is upon us and many Americans will be traveling domestically and internationally.

Travel can unfortunately also be linked to infectious diseases.

My guest today warns the public of five infectious diseases to keep an eye on during summer travel.

Joining me on the show is Luis Ostrosky, MD. Dr. Ostrosky is a professor of medicine and epidemiology and chief of infectious diseases at UTHealth Houston.

The World Health Organization announced last month that The West African country of Benin has eliminated the neglected tropical disease, trachoma as a public health problem.

Benin is the fifth country in WHO’s African Region and one of 17 countries in the world to have eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

Joining me today to talk about trachoma and the achievement in Benin is Stephanie Palmer. Stephanie is the trachoma technical advisor for the global organization, FHI 360.

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Two countries in Africa, on opposite sides of the continent–Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, have been battling Marburg Virus Disease outbreaks since February and March, respectively.

Marburg has had a fatality rate as high as 88%, but with lessons learned from prior outbreaks and epidemics, those rates are dropping.

My guest today says “Without question, lives are being saved today in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania and neighboring countries, thanks to lessons we learned during the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa during the 2015-16 epidemic.”

Today we look at Marburg virus and techniques employed that have prevented the spread of the disease and saved lives.

Joining me today is Gene Olinger, PhD, Dr Olinger is the Chief Science Advisor for MRIGlobal. 

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Cholera is a major public health concern in many parts of the world. We see large numbers today in Africa and South Asia. We’ve seen massive outbreaks in Haiti and Yemen over the past decade.

Joining me today to talk about cholera and the situation we are in now across the globe is Peter Gilligan, Ph.D, Dr Gilligan is the former Director of the Clinical Microbiology-Immunology Laboratories at the University of North Carolina Hospitals.

Cholera in Times of Chaos

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In a recent paper in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), authors report U.S. babesiosis incidence significantly increased in northeastern states in the past decade or so.

What is this tickborne parasite, why is it increasing and what are the public health implications of it?

Joining me today to discuss Babesiosis and the new paper is Megan Swanson, MPH, Megan is with the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health at the CDC in Atlanta.

Trends in Reported Babesiosis Cases — United States, 2011–2019

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Atrial fibrillation (AFib) not only causes shortness of breath and palpitations but puts patients at increased risk of stroke. When medication or other treatments fail to relieve symptoms, cardiologists increasingly perform a catheter ablation procedure.

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows the procedure is successful in most patients, with few side effects.

Joining me today to talk about AFib, medication treatments, cardiac ablation and the recent study is Peter R. Kowey, MD. Dr Kowey is a professor of medicine and clinical pharmacology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and the William Wikoff Smith Chair in Cardiovascular Research.

In addition, Dr Kowey is the senior author of the study–Initial Findings From the National Cardiovascular Data Registry of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Procedures

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Last month, New Hampshire health officials released a health alert after identifying two locally acquired Echinococcus granulosus cases, the first such cases of the parasitic infection in the state.

Joining me today to discuss the parasite and the situation is Elizabeth Talbot, MD. Dr. Talbot is the New Hampshire Deputy State Epidemiologist, a professor at Dartmouth College and an infectious disease specialist.

Giardia is arguably the most common parasite infection of humans worldwide, and the second most common in the United States after pinworm.

Joining me to talk about Giardia is Chandana Bala. Chandy is the President of Global Insight Advisory Network and writes on the intersection of healthcare and technology. She is also a frequent writer for Gideon Informatics.

Joining me today to tell his personal story of dealing with a family member with marijuana (cannabis) induced psychosis is author of the book, Gone to Pot: Cannabis--What every parent needs to know, Terry Hammond.

In addition to telling his personal story, Terry talks about the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, it's effect on the brain, research describing the link between marijuana use and mental health issues like psychosis and much more.