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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

19:23

S2E6 The Syphilis Surge: Echoes of Betrayal in a...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/02/11

Syphilis is back—and it never really left. In this episode, we break down how a curable, preventable infection is resurging to cause a public health crisis across the U.S., and globally, especially among pregnant people and newborns. We unpack the science behind Treponema pallidum, the public health failures driving the crisis, and why trust in health systems is still broken—from Tuskegee to today. Plus: what you need to know about testing, treatment, and why a shot of penicillin makes all the

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3:09

On Silence, Science, and Complicity: A Statement From...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/02/06

This short, standalone episode is a statement of ethics.It explains why this podcast will not remain silent in the face of state violence, the dismantling of public health, and the normalization of harm against vulnerable people. It clarifies the ethical boundaries that guide the work behind Infectious Dose: that science is for everyone, but cruelty, authoritarianism, and the protection of abuse are not neutral positions. This episode is not a scientific explainer and not an invitation to debate

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23:17

S2E5 RSV: Symptoms, Spread, and Prevention

Infectious Dose ·

2026/02/04

RSV is one of the most common respiratory viruses — and a leading cause of hospitalization in young children worldwide. In this solo episode, I explain what RSV is, how it spreads, and what illness typically looks like in babies, children, and adults. We cover when RSV can be managed at home, how to recognize breathing-related red flags, when to go to the ER or call an ambulance, and what supportive care actually helps. The episode also looks at the current RSV landscape, including rising cases in

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41:57

S2E4 Eight Legs, Endless Fear: Spiders and the Skin...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/01/28

Spiders inspire some of our deepest fears—but are they actually as dangerous as we think? In this Outbreak After Dark episode, Heather, Sam, and Kate dig into the real science behind spiders, venom, and so-called “spider bites,” separating evidence from exaggeration. Along the way, they unpack persistent myths, medical misattribution, and why spiders loom so large in outbreak lore—despite rarely being the culprit. Creepy? Yes. Deadly? Usually not. Welcome to Outbreak After Dark.Editor's Note: While

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76:56

S2E3 From Spillover to Weapons: A Conversation with...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/01/21

What are biological weapons—and what are they not? In this episode, Heather is joined by bio-risk consultant and biodefense researcher Conor Browne for a grounded, reality-based conversation about biological weapons, biodefense, and why public discourse around these topics so often goes wrong. Together, they unpack what actually defines a biological weapon, why intent and delivery matter, and how real historical programs differ from the conspiratorial narratives dominating social media and politics

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33:35

S2E2 The Right Stuff for Texas? An Interview with...

Infectious Dose ·

2026/01/14

In this episode of Infectious Dose, Heather McSharry talks with Terry Virts—retired NASA astronaut, Air Force colonel, and candidate for Congress in Texas—about what happens when leadership ignores science.Drawing on his experience in aviation, spaceflight, and risk analysis, Terry discusses the real-world consequences of sidelining evidence in public health, climate, and emergency preparedness. The conversation covers COVID-era misinformation, vaccines, measles outbreaks, healthcare access in

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24:45

S2 E1 — Seasonal, Not Safe: Influenza 2025–2026

Infectious Dose ·

2026/01/07

This week in “Seasonal, Not Safe,” we confront the truth about influenza in 2025–2026. It’s not “just the flu.” From the tragic stories of children lost to fast-moving infections, to the science of how influenza spreads, mutates, and turns deadly — this episode explores what’s really happening this season. We break down the rise of Subclade K, current global flu patterns, new U.S. vaccine policy controversies, and what makes the flu virus so evasive. Plus: how antiviral medications work, why

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13:43

Episode 43: Still Curious - A New Year's Reset...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/12/31

This New Year’s Eve episode isn’t about resolutions — it’s about a reset.In Still Curious: A New Year’s Reset (Without Resolutions), Heather reflects on a difficult year for science, public health, and trust, and makes the case for curiosity as a quieter, steadier way forward. Rather than focusing on optimism or big promises, this episode explores what it means to pause, to stay engaged without burning out, and to carry curiosity into the new year even when certainty feels loud. The episode closes

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27:31

Episode 42 - Outbreak After Dark: A Consumption...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/12/24

This month’s Outbreak After Dark is a special holiday episode — and a heavier one.In A Consumption Christmas Carol , we reimagine Dickens’ classic ghost story through the real epidemic that haunted Victorian London: tuberculosis. Long before antibiotics, TB shaped daily life, art, poverty, and policy — romanticized in parlors, devastating in tenements, and deadly across all social classes. Guided by familiar spirits of past, present, and yet to come, we trace how tuberculosis was misunderstood,

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27:57

Episode 41 - ACIP Undone: Proof, Policy, and Panic...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/12/17

Show Notes — ACIP Undone: Proof, Policy, and Panic Over a Hepatitis B VaccineThis episode unpacks everything you need to know about hepatitis B and the life-saving vaccine that helps prevent chronic liver disease and liver cancer later in life. From the biology of the virus to the science behind the birth dose, we explore how this vaccine works, why it’s given so early, and what’s at stake now that ideology is overriding evidence in U.S. vaccine policy. We also confront a dangerous shift in public

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19:38

Episode 40: Vaccine Safety 9 - The FDA Memo That...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/12/10

A leaked FDA memo sparked headlines claiming the COVID vaccine killed children — but the memo included no evidence, no data, and no scientific analysis. In today’s episode, Heather unpacks what the memo actually said, why experts across the field immediately rejected its conclusions, and how vaccine safety is truly evaluated. She explains the real risks of COVID in kids, from MIS-C to long COVID, and why misinformation from inside federal agencies threatens public trust and puts families at risk

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19:50

Episode 39: Cold Comfort - What Winter Rituals Got...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/12/03

There’s more to your favorite winter rituals than nostalgia.In this episode, we dive into how centuries of winter traditions—across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas—offered accidental protection against infectious diseases. From citrus in stockings to cloves in mulled wine, from kimchi to candlelight, we trace how ancient practices around food, air, warmth, and cleaning helped communities stay healthier in the harshest season. Learn how: Spices like cinnamon, ginger, and clove helped

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20:51

Episode 38: OAD 2 - Pilgrims and Plagues

Infectious Dose ·

2025/11/26

In this Outbreak After Dark episode, we revisit Thanksgiving’s origin story through the lens of infectious disease. Heather, Sam, and Kate dive into the epidemics that devastated Indigenous nations before the Pilgrims ever arrived, the microbial mismatches between Old World and New, and the narratives that still distort how we talk about “the First Thanksgiving.” It’s a campfire conversation that blends history, science, myth-busting, and respect for the communities whose histories were altered by

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30:12

Episode 37: A Prescription for Pestilence - The...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/11/19

This week’s episode dives into the roots of the global antimicrobial resistance crisis. How did routine cuts, UTIs, and pneumonias become untreatable? What systems helped superbugs evolve — and why is the problem accelerating worldwide?We explore the science, the policies, the failures, and the future of drug-resistant microbes in A Prescription for Pestilence: The Global Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance. NOTE: All cited references are linked in the blog post for this episode at

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26:32

Episode 36: Rift Valley Fever - When Rains Bring Life...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/11/12

Rift Valley fever is back — and it’s hitting harder than it has in years. In this episode, we trace the 2025 outbreak from Mauritania to Senegal, explore how the virus hides between rainy seasons, and reveal what scientists have learned from unexpected hotspots in Tanzania. From mosquitoes and livestock to people and policy, this is Rift Valley fever: when the rains bring life and loss.Don't miss today's (Nov 12, 2025) free webinar on RVF: The World Health Organization is hosting a free EPI-WIN

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29:38

Episode 35: Travel Bugs & Holiday Hugs - Staying...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/11/05

Headed into holiday travel season? This episode of Infectious Dose is your go-to guide for staying healthy on the road — without panic, shame, or disinfecting your entire row like you're filming a CSI episode. We talk practical prevention for planes, airports, road trips, and cruises, including how to avoid RSV, norovirus, and long COVID, what to pack in your health kit, why snacks matter, and how to travel with kids without losing your mind — or your mask. Smart tips, real science, and relatable

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31:09

Episode 34: Outbreak After Dark 1 - Ocularium

Infectious Dose ·

2025/10/29

Welcome to Outbreak After Dark, a new monthly ritual within Infectious Dose, where the science stays real but the stories get darker, weirder, and yes—sometimes just plain gross.In this Halloween premiere, Ocularium, Heather is joined by cohosts Kate and Sam, to share true “medical horror” stories about parasites that call the eye home: Loa loa, Onchocerca volvulus, Acanthamoeba, and Thelazia gulosa. 🍂 Grab your themed snacks and cider, settle by the fire, and prepare to see infectious disease in

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15:36

Episode 33: The Sleep Lecture - A Case of...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/10/22

What if you couldn’t wake up—and your mind kept trying to lecture its way out of the dark?In this week’s Month of the Macabre episode, “The Sleep Lecture,” a neurologist begins a talk on encephalitis lethargica—the mysterious “sleepy sickness” that swept the world a century ago—only to discover she’s become part of her own subject. Based on true clinical records and modern research, this immersive narrative blurs the line between dream and science, between consciousness and coma. Listen with the

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15:00

Episode 32: The R@VN - A Requiem for Antivaxxers

Infectious Dose ·

2025/10/15

In this special Month of the Macabre episode, Infectious Dose steps into gothic territory with a haunting reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven—rewritten for the age of science denial.The R@VN follows a man who built his fame on rejecting vaccines and mistrusting public health—until a disease he dismissed returns to claim him. As paralysis sets in, his smart-home AI, the Rational Autonomous Virtual Nexus (R@VN), becomes both witness and judge, speaking in clinical tones that sound increasingly

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20:02

Episode 31: Salem 1692 - The Grain, the Gallows, and...

Infectious Dose ·

2025/10/08

In 1692, the people of Salem believed the Devil walked among them.But centuries later, scientists and historians would wonder: could the culprit have been something far more earthly—a hallucinogenic fungus lurking in their daily bread? This Month of the Macabre episode of Infectious Dose examines the ergotism theory behind the Salem witch trials, blending science, history, and haunting “found tapes” that may hit too close to home. From convulsive fits and crawling skin to the toxic fungus Claviceps

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54 results

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