Transmissible: A Public Health Podcast

BREAKING NEWS: Hantavirus Explained - Should We Be Worried?

A rare outbreak of Andes virus hantavirus linked to an Antarctic cruise voyage has drawn international attention following multiple deaths, confirmed human-to-human trans

Ep 38: Is Nipah Virus Really a Pandemic Threat? What This Deadly Virus Reveals About Clickbait and Risk Perception

In this episode of Transmissible: A Public Health Podcast, we examine the science and the headlines behind Nipah virus, one of the world’s most lethal emerging zoonotic d

Ep 37: Flu is Surging: Season Updates, What H3N2 Subclade K Means, and How Well the Flu Shot is Holding Up

Influenza is rising rapidly across the U.S., and headlines about H3N2 and “new variants” are everywhere. In this episode, I break down what the data actually show, what’s

Ep 36: John Snow and Why Public Health History Matters

In this episode of Transmissible, we revisit the lifeand work of Dr. John Snow, often called the father of modern epidemiology, to explore why public health history still

Ep 35: Meat Allergy from a Tick Bite? Alpha-Gal Syndrome Explained and How to Prevent It

In this episode we dive into the strange and fascinating world of Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), the delayed meat allergy that can appear after a tick bite. We talk through wh

Ep 34: How to Land Your Dream Job in Public Health + Sample Networking Emails & List of Job Titles

In this episode, I break down how to identify your actual dream job in public health using a simple “mental algorithm” so you’re not just scattering applications into the

Ep 33: Diphtheria and Dog Sleds: Racing Antitoxin Across Alaska in 1925

In January 1925, a deadly diphtheria outbreak threatened the small, frozen town of Nome and the only hope was antitoxin that had to be rushed across Alaska by dog sled in

Disease Detective Word of the Week: Epidemiology

A quick breakdown of public health jargon in under five minutes. This week's word is at the heart of public health itself: epidemiology.

Disease Detective Word of the Week: Zoonosis

A quick breakdown of public health jargon in under five minutes.

Disease Detective Word of the Week: Fomite

A quick breakdown of public health jargon in under five minutes that is made for curious minds.

Ep 32: Is This the Most Overlooked Life-Saving Tool in Global Newborn Health? (kw: neonatal jaundice, phototherapy, bilirubin, kernicterus)

Phototherapy is one of the most effective and quietly revolutionary treatments in public health. Every year, hundreds of thousands of newborns around the world develop se

Ep 31: Vaccines and Autism - What the Science Really Says

In this episode of Transmissible, we take a critical, evidence-based look at the claim that vaccines cause autism — and examine how this misconception gained traction. We

Breaking News: Earthquake in Myanmar & Thailand – Public Health on the Frontlines

A powerful earthquake recently struck Myanmar and Thailand, shaking communities and raising urgent public health concerns. In this mini-episode of Transmissible: A Public

Ep 30: Why Early Peanut Introduction is a Public Health Game Changer - a LEAP Study Overview (Peanut Allergy Study)

For years, parents were told to avoid peanuts in infancy to prevent allergies. But the groundbreaking LEAP study flipped that advice on its head, showing that early peanu

Thank You, CDC Federal Workers & Contractors + What Does CDC Actually Do?

In this special mini-episode of Transmissible, host Jessica shares a heartfelt thank-you to the hardworking federal employees and contractors at the CDC. Amid heated onli

Ep 29: Norovirus: The Perfect Human Pathogen

Norovirus—often called the perfect pathogen—is one of the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. Responsible for widespread illness across all age g

Ep 28: Measles: The Science, MMR Vaccine, Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and History

In 2023, measles claimed an estimated 107,000 lives, yet vaccination has prevented a staggering 60 million deaths since 2000. Despite this, measles remains a pressing iss

H5 Bird Flu Updates: Will it jump? What is going on with raw milk?

In this mini episode of Transmissible: A Public Health Podcast, host Jessica Stahl dives into the latest updates on the H5 bird flu (avian influenza) situation as of Dece

BREAKING NEWS: WHO Investigates Mysterious Illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Referred to as 'Disease X')

In this mini-episode of Transmissible, Jessica provides an urgent global health update on a mysterious illness emerging in a remote region of the Democratic Republic of C

Ep 27: Morning Sickness - The Science, Epidemiology, and History of Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy (NVP) and Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)

Correction! Frances Oldham Kelsey was a woman. I accidentally assumed she was a man based on “Frances”. This week on Transmissible: A Public Health Podcast, Jessica sha