Osterholm Update

Last week, a sixth measles-associated death was reported in Pennsylvania, which is currently the nation's measles hotspot. Every death from this vaccine-preventable disease is worth noting, especially amid the nationwide measles outbreaks. This week, hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm discuss some of the complications from measles infection like immune amnesia and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. They'll also talk about Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new vaccine injury initiatives, provide an on-the-ground view of the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo, cover the uptick in bird flu activity on US farms and examine how cuts to Medicaid may affect Americans with HIV. Plus, a very special dedication honoring the late journalist Helen Branswell. This episode was taped Monday evening, October 19th, 2026. Links: Helen Branswell, whose reporting on infectious diseases and public health drew acclaim, dies at 69 (STAT) Experts search for answers in limited information about mystery pneumonia outbreak in China (Helen’s first piece on COVID from January 2020, STAT) Ebola Has Never Spread This Quickly Before (New York Times) Changes to Medicaid could have severe consequences for Americans with HIV (CIDRAP News) Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES SUPPORT THIS PODCAST Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Since January 2025, the CDC has lost nearly a third of its staff under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This drastic reduction in staffing has limited the CDC’s ability to respond to the spread of measles and this summer's foodborne illness outbreaks. In today’s episode, hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm discuss what’s going on at the CDC and how it's impacting the agency's ability to respond to infectious diseases. They’'ll also provide an update on the measles outbreak in Pennsylvania, examine the rise of dengue virus cases in Florida, tell you what we know about a mysterious death in a Russian plague research lab and look at the latest data on COVID and other respiratory viruses– and what that means for the timing of flu shots. Plus, the latest installment of This Week in Public Health History. Links: ‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission (The New York Times) Plague as a Biological Weapon: Medical and Public Health Management (JAMA) Flu is here early. Plus Covid, mosquitoes, and more (Your Local Epidemiologist Substack) Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES SUPPORT THIS PODCAST Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Before 2025, we didn't spend too much time talking about measles on this podcast, and that's because there wasn't much of a need to. But ever since the measles outbreak in West Texas began in January 2025, it's become a regular topic of discussion, with the U.S. now at more than 6,000 confirmed cases since the beginning of that year. In this week's episode, hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm discuss the measles outbreak in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country. They’ll also cover some potential good news on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, answer listener questions about RSV and flu vaccines, and examine an uptick in exposure to rabid animals in the US. Correction: During the introduction, it is stated that there have been more than 6,000 measles cases since the beginning of last year. As of Friday 9/25, there have been a total of 5,948 cases reported in the US during that time frame. Content Warning: This week's dedication and closing include discussion of suicide and mental health. For listeners who prefer to avoid these sensitive topics, you can skip over the discussion at 03:38 - 05:44 and 52:08 - 56:38. Links: Suicide Prevention Month Resources (National Alliance on Mental Illness) RFK Jr.’s Faulty Claim that U.S. Measles Response Is ‘Better’ Than ‘Any Other Country’ (Factcheck.org) Respiratory Virus Season Immunization Recommendations (American Medical Association) Sign up for our Wildface newsletter! (CIDRAP) Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES SUPPORT THIS PODCAST Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

This past August, Pennsylvania announced two measles-associated deaths in unvaccinated residents, marking the first measles deaths in the state in thirty-five years. This week, hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Micheal Osterholm discuss the two deaths and the controversy surrounding them. They'll also highlight takeaways from the independent review of COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines by CIDRAP's Vaccine Integrity Project, answer a listener’s question about the timing of COVID and flu shots, provide an update on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and share a special dedication for the 25th anniversary of CIDRAP. Links: Making Sense of Lancaster County’s Controversial Coroner (Paul Offit’s Substack Beyond the Noise) The Measles-Stricken Mother Who Lost Her Newborn Son (The Atlantic) Op-Ed: ‘Died with, not from’ was a real COVID problem. It’s the wrong framework for measles. (CIDRAP) Respiratory Virus Season Immunization Recommendations (American Medical Association) Vaccine Integrity Project's 2026-27 Respiratory Season Evidence Review (CIDRAP) Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES SUPPORT THIS PODCAST Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

As summer comes to a close, another chapter begins: back to school. But with that comes a lot of different public health challenges and some muddled guidance for parents. Like how do we deal with measles in schools? When's the best time for my kids to get their flu shot? And do I need to be worried about the blueberries in my child's lunchbox? Hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Micheal Osterholm will try to answer some of these questions in this week’s episode. They’ll also discuss the latest on COVID-19, different foodborne illnesses, the two recent measles deaths, as well as updates on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Plus, a special State Fair themed closing. Links: Yes, COVID Is Still a Thing (Unbiased Science) Back to School (and the List in My Head) (Unbiased Science) At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests (FDA) Coronavirus Vaccines R&D Roadmap Initiative (CIDRAP) Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES SUPPORT THIS PODCAST Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License