Is illness more rampant now than ever? This engaging discussion reveals startling data showing a rise in sickness post-pandemic, affecting people across the globe. Striking personal stories, including those from Olympic athletes, highlight this troubling trend. Factors like 'immunity debt,' vaccination rates, and climate change complicate the health landscape. Experts share insights and protective strategies to navigate this new reality, shedding light on a health mystery that many are facing today.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
The surge in communicable diseases post-pandemic, including measles and dengue, highlights significant global health concerns driven by various factors.
The concept of 'immunity debt' suggests that reduced exposure during lockdowns may have increased susceptibility to infections among populations.
Deep dives
Surging Communicable Diseases Post-Pandemic
An analysis of global health data reveals that at least 13 communicable diseases are surging significantly beyond pre-pandemic levels. Diseases such as cholera, measles, tuberculosis, RSV, dengue, and influenza have seen alarming increases in case counts across various regions. For instance, measles is spreading to around 20 states in the U.S. and has spiked in multiple European countries, while dengue has resurged strongly in America. These statistics underscore a concerning trend where more than 40 locations report diseases with case counts jumping tenfold or higher compared to their pre-pandemic baselines.
Theories Behind Increased Illness
Several theories are under investigation regarding the rise in illness in a post-pandemic world, one being the concept of 'immunity debt' due to reduced exposure during lockdowns. This theory posits that limited exposure has made populations more susceptible to infections. Additionally, delayed exposure for infants who missed early illness during the pandemic is being considered a factor, as these children may face a higher incidence of sickness later. Experts also point to vaccine misinformation and hesitancy as significant contributors to the uptick in diseases, notably measles cases, which surged after a decline in vaccination rates.
The Perfect Storm of Health Crisis
Experts suggest that the current surge in illnesses is a result of a perfect storm of factors, including disrupted immune systems, socio-economic disparities exacerbated by COVID, and climate change. The decline in childhood vaccination rates is highlighted as a particularly potent factor contributing to this health crisis. Climate change has also facilitated the spread of diseases like dengue and malaria to new areas by altering ecosystems. This complex interplay of factors makes it difficult to pinpoint a single cause for the rising sickness rates, illustrating the multifaceted nature of global health challenges today.
Have you had the flu recently? Or RSV? Or just... some bug that you can’t quite shake? If so, you’re not alone. Bloomberg’s data team recently decided to investigate whether or not the perception that we’re all getting sick all the time is actually backed up by numbers. And what they found was truly surprising: in countries around the world, people are getting much sicker, much more often in the wake of the pandemic.
We’re re-upping this episode, which originally aired on June 14, because – surprise – everyone’s still getting sick. Listen as host Sarah Holder and Bloomberg data reporter Jinshan Hong try to solve the global health mystery – including the potential culprits behind the surge in sickness and what we can do to avoid getting ill so often.