Measles isn't just a childhood rash—it's a potentially devastating illness that can reset your entire immune system. In this eye-opening conversation, our team explores why this ancient virus still demands our attention in 2025.

When we began recording this episode, a troubling measles outbreak was unfolding in Texas, with two unvaccinated children already having lost their lives. We dive into the history of this disease, tracing its evolution from cattle plague to human pathogen and explaining why the World Health Organization classifies it as one of the world's most contagious diseases.

What makes measles particularly dangerous isn't just its extraordinary transmissibility—it's a phenomenon called "immune amnesia." This lesser-known complication can erase your body's hard-earned immunity to other pathogens for up to three years after infection. Dr. Matt Dasco shares his firsthand clinical experiences treating measles patients, painting a vivid picture of why prevention is so crucial.

The good news? We have an exceptionally effective vaccine. The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine provides 97% protection after two doses and confers lifetime immunity. Yet despite this medical marvel, vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation has allowed measles to stage a comeback after being declared eliminated in the US in 2000.

Our team doesn't shy away from addressing difficult questions about vaccine communication, acknowledging that building trust requires honest conversations about both benefits and risks. We explore why middle and high-income communities often experience higher vaccine hesitancy and how social media amplifies misinformation.

Whether you're concerned about current outbreaks, curious about infectious disease, or simply want to understand how to evaluate health information critically, this episode offers vital insights into protecting our communities from a preventable threat. Subscribe now to join our evidence-based conversation about the health challenges that affect us all.

Thanks for listening to the Infectious Science Podcast. Be sure to visit infectiousscience.org to join the conversation, access the show notes, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to receive our free materials.

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What if your Google searches could predict disease outbreaks before traditional surveillance methods? That's exactly what happened during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic when researchers discovered online search patterns matched CDC data – but delivered results much faster.

Welcome to the fascinating world of infodemiology, where digital footprints become powerful tools for public health. In this eye-opening conversation with experts Dr. Heather Duncan and Dr. Patrick Murphy, we explore how researchers analyze everything from tweets to search queries to understand health trends, track disease spread, and even identify mental health risks.

The implications are both promising and concerning. While infodemiology offers unprecedented speed and insights for public health response, it raises critical questions about privacy, ethics, and the responsibility that comes with identifying health risks online. If AI flags someone as potentially suicidal based on their social media activity, what obligations exist to connect them with resources?

Perhaps most shocking is the revelation that just 12 individuals were responsible for 60% of the anti-vaccine content circulating on certain platforms. This precision mapping of information flow demonstrates infodemiology's potential to target interventions effectively.

As social media increasingly becomes Americans' primary source of health information, understanding these digital dynamics becomes crucial for public health. Dr. Duncan shares her vision of creating accessible, automated tools that would allow even small health departments to harness these powerful insights without extensive resources.

Subscribe to Infectious Science for more fascinating conversations at the intersection of technology and public health, and share your thoughts on how digital surveillance might shape the future of healthcare.

Thanks for listening to the Infectious Science Podcast. Be sure to visit infectiousscience.org to join the conversation, access the show notes, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to receive our free materials.

We hope you enjoyed this new episode of Infectious Science, and if you did, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Please share this episode with others who may be interested in this topic!

Also, please don’t hesitate to ask questions or tell us which topics you want us to cover in future episodes. To get in touch, drop us a line in the comment section or send us a message on social media.
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Unravel the intricate stories behind ancient mummies and their connection to various pathogens in our latest podcast episode of this season. This engaging discussion leads listeners through a fascinating exploration of how the health of past civilizations reveals untold secrets about diseases that shaped their societies. We explore the different types of mummies—both anthropogenic and spontaneous—and what their preservation tells us about historical health crises.

From the chilling preservation of bog bodies to the revered Egyptian mummies, we investigate how these artifacts serve as vital sources of knowledge about ancient diseases like malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease. As we draw connections between these historical pathogens and contemporary health issues, we raise intriguing discussions about how climate change and globalization may affect disease patterns today.

Our conversation is enriched by studies revealing the presence of ancient pathogens in notable figures such as Otzi the Iceman and the Medici mummies. Each discovery unravels a layer of mystery surrounding how societies dealt with illness, healthcare practices, and even the beliefs connected to death and preservation.

Join us as we dive deep into the fascinating interplay between history, culture, and disease. By understanding the past, we illuminate paths for the future. Subscribe now and participate in the conversation about these vital links in our health narrative! Spread the word, leave a review, and let us know what ancient topics inspire your curiosity for future episodes.

Quick Correction: Lyme does not need colder climates.

Thanks for listening to the Infectious Science Podcast. Be sure to visit infectiousscience.org to join the conversation, access the show notes, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to receive our free materials.

We hope you enjoyed this new episode of Infectious Science, and if you did, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Please share this episode with others who may be interested in this topic!

Also, please don’t hesitate to ask questions or tell us which topics you want us to cover in future episodes. To get in touch, drop us a line in the comment section or send us a message on social media.
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