Episodios

  • 69: Marmot: It's NOT for Dinner!
    Oct 7 2025

    Caixo! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger & Chris Sanford answer your travel health questions, including:

    • Why can tot tubbing make you pass out?
    • Hypothermia: What is it, how to avoid it, what to do if it happens?
    • Can we get a reliable flu shot this year?
    • Plague in Mongolia…. From Marmots? Can I travel there if immunosuppressed?
    • Are Germ & Worm board-certified in Travel Medicine?
    • Are there issues with catching Nipah virus from sampling palm wine in Bangladesh?
    • I love to travel but getting there stresses me out… help?

    We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: germandworm@gmail.com. And, please visit our website: germandworm.com.

    Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

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    32 m
  • 68: Safety on Two Wheels, with Bicycle Safety Expert Tom Sanford, MD
    Sep 30 2025

    Aloha! Today, travel medicine specialist Dr. Chris Sanford ("Worm") speaks with bicycle superstar and safety enthusiast Dr. Tom Sanford about ways to have a fun, safe cycling experience during international travel. Want to know what a "MAMIL" is? Just listen to find out....

    We're also happy to introduce a new segment at G&W called, "Why You Should Go," where we share our personal takes on destinations we have loved and recommend highly. Today, Chris will share his thoughts on visiting Peru.

    We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: germandworm@gmail.com. And, please visit our website: germandworm.com.

    Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

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    22 m
  • 67: Plague in America!
    Sep 23 2025

    Goeie Dag! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") and Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer YOUR travel health questions, including:

    • Is there really plague in California?
    • Is DEET safe to use?
    • Will I get stung by a box jellyfish when diving in Belize?
    • Hiking in rattlesnake country: should I carry antivenom?
    • Should I worry about COVID-19 as I plan a trip to Malta?
    • Do you travel independently or with a group?
    • What dehydrated meals do you recommend?

    We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: germandworm@gmail.com. And, please visit our website: germandworm.com.

    Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

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    34 m
  • 66: Will You Play with a Bearded Dragon?
    Sep 16 2025

    Sain baina uu! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") and Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer YOUR travel health questions, including:

    • Did RFK Jr. demand a journal retract a vaccine article?
    • Humira and Mongolia--how to prepare?
    • What's up with chikungunya vaccines this week?
    • Can I get Salmonella infection from a pet bearded dragon?
    • How to reduce drowning risk, and what to do if you rescue a struggling swimmer?
    • Dental injuries in the wild–what to do in the Canadian wilderness?
    • Heat exhaustion vs heat stroke?

    We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: germandworm@gmail.com. And, please visit our website: germandworm.com.

    Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

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    39 m
  • 65: The Ferrari of Viruses!
    Sep 9 2025

    Halo olgeta! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") and Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer YOUR travel health questions, including:

    • How long should I boil water to make it safe to drink?
    • What is ciguatera poisoning, and where can I get it?
    • What is up with USA stopping mRNA vaccine funding?
    • Can kids still get COVID-19 vaccines?
    • Where do I need to worry about chikungunya?
    • Any tips for cutting through online ads to a legit destination website?
    • Will there be a vaccine for norovirus… please…?
    • How can I avoid being struck by lightning?

    Here's a link to a good article about the challenges of developing a norovirus vaccine.

    We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: germandworm@gmail.com. And, please visit our website: germandworm.com.

    Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

    Más Menos
    29 m
  • 64: Wait… I should NOT finish my antibiotic course!?
    Sep 2 2025

    Ahoj! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") and Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer YOUR travel health questions, including:

    • Best practices for crossing rivers on foot?
    • Should I always finish a course of antibiotics?
    • Should I use an online company to purchase pre-packaged meds before my trip?
    • Is there really dengue fever in Florida?
    • Should I be immunized for cholera before traveling to Africa?
    • Wait… there’s malaria in WA state?
    • Do I need a hep A shot before my European vacation?
    • Legionnaire's disease... in NYC?

    We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: germandworm@gmail.com. And, please visit our website: germandworm.com.

    Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

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    33 m
  • 63: Donner Party, anyone? Water, Med Kits, & Diamox with Howard Donner, MD
    Aug 26 2025

    Hi there! Today, travel medicine specialist Dr. Chris Sanford ("Worm") sits down with internationally recognized expedition medicine expert Dr. Howard Donner, to ask him the questions we hear over and over, including:

    • How do YOU purify drinking water in the backcountry?
    • What are the advantages and drawbacks of using a water filter? Or a UV Sterilizer?
    • How long should we boil water to make it safe for drinking?
    • Is it important to rid water of viruses before drinking it?
    • What's in your medical travel kit?
    • When should people take acetazolamide (Diamox)? And, at what dose?

    You can learn more about Dr. Donner here.

    We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: germandworm@gmail.com.

    Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Donner’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

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    25 m
  • 62: Hot Snot, Hot Shot: ENT travel health with Greg Davis, MD
    Aug 19 2025

    Hoi! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:

    • What are the most common ENT issues you see among travelers?
    • Why do ears hurt so much when flying--and what to do?
    • What should I do if I have a cold when I need to fly?
    • Dry air makes my nasal passages swell: What can I do?
    • What's in your ENT travel kit?
    • Nose hairs! Can they safely be trimmed?
    • How can I deal with seasickness, vertigo, and Mal de Debarquement Syndrome?

    You can learn more about Dr. Davis here.

    And, please check out the upcoming 10th International Otolaryngology Underwater Update Course in Willemstad Curacao, November 11-14, 2025.

    We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: germandworm@gmail.com.

    Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

    Más Menos
    32 m