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PODCAST

Infectious Dose

Infectious Dose

Infectious dose is the shot of science you need to protect yourself from misinformation. Heather McSharry, PhD, an expert in viral pathogenesis, brings her blog to the airwaves to help bridge the dangerous gap between the science of infectious diseases and public misperception. On the podcast website, infectiousdose.com, all episodes have corresponding blog posts with the information contained in the episode along with links or PDFs for all sources used. To prevent unwelcome surprises, episodes with

science life sciences

All Episodes

19:03

Outbreak Watch: Line of Sight

Infectious Dose ·

2026/06/19

Outbreak Watch returns with updates on three unfolding biological events and the systems responding to them.This week: • The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo becomes the largest on record as contact tracing, clean water access, and response operations face growing challenges. • The Andes hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship is behaving as expected, providing an important lesson in what successful containment looks like. • New World screwworm

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17:58

S2E25 Listening for Rain: Microbes, Memories, and...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/06/17

You can smell rain before it arrives. The air changes. The wind shifts. And somehow, before the first drop falls, you already know a storm is coming. In this immersive episode of Infectious Dose, we explore the science behind that experience. We'll follow a summer storm from distant rain clouds to the microbes living beneath our feet, uncovering the roles of petrichor, geosmin, and the remarkable biology behind one of nature's most beloved scents. Along the way, we'll explore why humans are so

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39:52

S2E24 The Tick, the Table, and the Timeline: How a...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/06/10

In this episode of Infectious Dose, Heather explores one of the strangest allergic conditions modern medicine has ever identified: a syndrome in which a tick bite can trigger an allergy to mammalian meat weeks, months, or even years later. Why do symptoms often appear in the middle of the night instead of immediately after a meal? How did a cancer drug help scientists solve the mystery? Where does the alpha-gal molecule come from, and why do ticks seem uniquely capable of triggering this unusual

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16:02

S2E23 Storm Surge: Microbes in the Wake of a Hurricane

Infectious Dose ·

2026/06/03

In this episode of Infectious Dose, Heather explores the infectious disease risks that follow hurricanes, tropical storms, and flooding events. Learn how severe weather changes exposure pathways for pathogens already present in our environment and why recovery can create unique health challenges long after the rain stops.Topics include: • Floodwater and wound infections • Vibrio vulnificus and coastal flooding • Leptospirosis and rodent exposure • Mold and respiratory risks during cleanup •

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17:00

Outbreak Watch: Exactly as Expected

Infectious Dose ·

2026/05/28

Introducing Outbreak Watch by Infectious Dose. When major outbreaks evolve quickly, Heather will occasionally release these extra episodes featuring timely updates and systems-focused analysis. In this first Outbreak Watch episode, we examine the rapidly escalating Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC and Uganda alongside the continuing Andes hantavirus cluster linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. We break down the latest WHO numbers, why Ebola transmission is accelerating through

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27:01

S2E21 Recorded in Blood: When True Crime Goes Viral

Infectious Dose ·

2026/05/27

A nurse in Louisiana receives an HIV diagnosis that doesn’t make sense. No clear exposure. No obvious source. And eventually, investigators begin to suspect something far more disturbing. In this episode of Outbreak After Dark, Heather and Kate explore the real case that brought forensic virology into the courtroom for the first time. Through genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, scientists traced the relationships between viruses to help prosecutors build a criminal case against a physician

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44:20

S2E20 Containing Ebola: Fear, Caregiving, and...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/05/20

A new Ebola outbreak is unfolding in Central Africa — this time caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus. As cases rise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, fear and misinformation are spreading too.In this episode, we break down: What Ebola actually is How Ebola spreads — and how it doesn’t Why healthcare workers and caregivers are at highest risk What happens inside the body during Ebola infection Why Ebola outbreaks amplify through strained systems The latest updates on the 2026

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35:37

S2E19 Hantavirus on the High Seas Part 2: What...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/05/13

Last week, the central question surrounding the MV Hondius outbreak was whether Andes virus was spreading person-to-person at all.This week, the evidence shifted. In Part 2 of Hantavirus on the High Seas, we revisit the major questions from last week’s episode and examine what new genomic data, case timelines, and public-health guidance now suggest about the outbreak. We break down what changed, what remains uncertain, and why the public conversation around “airborne” spread, “prolonged close

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18:15

S2E18 Hantavirus on the High Seas: How We Talk About...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/05/06

A hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship has triggered fear, speculation, and growing debate online about whether the virus could be spreading person-to-person.But what do we actually know right now? In this episode, Heather breaks down the current hantavirus cruise cluster through the lens of science communication and uncertainty. Rather than focusing only on the facts of the outbreak, this episode explores a bigger question: What does trustworthy, imperfect outbreak communication sound like

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42:51

S2E17 Remedies and Regrets: The Worst Infection...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/04/29

Imagine getting sick in the 1700s—before microbes were discovered, before antibiotics, and before infection had a clear cause. In this Outbreak After Dark episode, we explore the strange, unsettling, and sometimes surprisingly insightful treatments used to fight disease in the pre-germ theory era. From bloodletting and mercury to tobacco smoke enemas and malariotherapy, these practices reflect a time when medicine was working without seeing the real enemy. Along the way, we also uncover the rare

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20:41

S2E16 The Call Came From Inside: Epstein–Barr virus...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/04/22

There’s a virus you probably already have.Epstein–Barr virus infects nearly 95% of adults worldwide. For many, it shows up once—fatigue, a sore throat, maybe a diagnosis of mononucleosis—and then disappears. But EBV doesn’t disappear. It stays, establishing lifelong infection inside B cells—the very cells responsible for immune memory. Most of the time, the immune system keeps it under control. But EBV is not passive. It shifts between latency and reactivation, adapts to immune pressure, and in

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25:06

S2E15 Scratching the Surface: How We Miss Murine Typhus

Infectious Dose ·

2026/04/15

Murine typhus is a flea-borne bacterial infection that continues to circulate in parts of the United States, particularly in urban and suburban environments. But it’s often missed—because its symptoms are nonspecific, its rash may be subtle or absent, and it doesn’t fit the diagnostic patterns clinicians expect. In this episode, we explore: How murine typhus is transmitted (and why fleas matter more than you think) The role of urban ecology, including opossums, rodents, and flea vectors What

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19:43

S2E14 In the Quiet Hours: A Year of Science and...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/04/08

One year in, Heather steps back to reflect on what this podcast has become—and what changed along the way.What started as a focus on clear, accurate science grew into something more layered: an exploration of how trust, systems, and lived experience shape the way people understand infectious disease. It also opened the door to creative storytelling, immersive formats, and conversations that challenged her own assumptions. This episode includes a few short clips from the past year—moments that

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34:35

S2E13 Inside the Suit: An immersive walk through a...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/04/01

You’re about to step inside a BSL-4 lab.Not a tour. Not an explanation. An experience. You’ll move through clearance. Suit up. Connect to air. And cross the threshold into one of the most controlled environments in the world. Inside, the work is methodical. Quiet. Precise. And everything you think you know about these labs… starts to shift. Put your headphones on. And step inside. More information and resources can be found at infectiousdose.com.

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38:41

S2E12 The Bell, the Beak, and the Mark: Plague...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/03/25

The plague doctor: a symbol of fear, medicine, and mystery. But were they really the heroes we imagine—or something more complicated?In this Outbreak After Dark episode, we explore the real history behind the iconic beaked mask. From medieval theories of “bad air” to the rise of quarantine systems and early public health policy, we follow the evolution of plague response—and the role of the doctors at its center. Along the way, we unpack: What plague doctors actually did (and didn’t do) Why their

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27:49

S2E11 The Vaccine Safety Files: Guided Tour (Systems...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/03/18

What if the biggest misunderstandings about vaccine safety aren’t just about the science—but about how the system communicates it?In this updated guided tour of the Vaccine Safety Series, Heather maps the episodes that break down how vaccines are tested, monitored, and evaluated—and where communication and institutional failures have contributed to confusion and mistrust. This episode is designed to help you navigate the series—whether you’re new, revisiting key topics, or looking for the right

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60:34

S2E10 Upstream of Misinformation: Mark Ungrin on...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/03/11

When we talk about misinformation in public health, we usually imagine social media, conspiracy theories, or individuals misunderstanding science. But what if some of the most influential misinformation starts somewhere else? In this episode of Infectious Dose, Heather speaks with biomedical researcher Dr. Mark Ungrin about how scientific ideas move through institutional systems and why correcting errors can be surprisingly difficult once they become embedded in policy. They discuss: Why “human

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50:06

S2E9 Under the Skin: The Evolving Story of Mpox

Infectious Dose ·

2026/03/04

Mpox isn’t just a headline from 2022.In this episode, we explore what scientists have learned about mpox since the global outbreak — from how the virus moves through the body to why its lesions can be so painful. We break down the biology of orthopoxviruses, the surprising role of human immune enzymes in shaping viral evolution, and the emergence of a new lineage known as clade Ib that researchers are watching closely. We also look at the bigger picture: wildlife reservoirs, genomic surveillance,

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48:54

S2E8 Love Bites: Microbes That Hijack Affection

Infectious Dose ·

2026/02/25

What if attraction isn’t entirely yours? In this Outbreak After Dark episode, Heather, Kate, and Sam gather around the campfire to explore the parasites, fungi, and viruses that manipulate behavior in the name of survival. We’re talking:Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that dampens rodents’ fear of cats The lancet liver fluke, which turns ants into grazing bait Ophiocordyceps, the real-life “zombie ant” fungus Baculoviruses that liquefy caterpillars from the treetops Hairworms that drive crickets

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35:27

S2E7 At the Edge of Spillover: The Nipah Paradox

Infectious Dose ·

2026/02/18

Nipah virus scares virologists, and for good reason. It infects endothelial cells and neurons. It can cause fatal encephalitis. It spreads from bats to humans, and sometimes between people. So why does it keep burning out? In this episode of Infectious Dose, we examine:Henipavirus biology and receptor usage (ephrin-B2/B3) Why neurotropism drives severity Why outbreaks are small but deadly Why R₀ remains low What would actually have to change for Nipah to go pandemic Why spillover keeps

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