Public Health On Call

When Matt Ford, an actor, writer, and video producer in LA, had flu-like symptoms a few weeks ago, he never would have suspected mpox if a close contact hadn't told him they'd tested positive. Still in isolation, Ford talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about his experience with the disease, where we are in terms of treatment and prevention, and how to lessen stigma towards the LGBTQ community where mpox seems to be spreading the fastest.

COVID-19 sent shock waves through the tourism industry, shutting down the economic engine of many popular destinations. But for some residents and tourism workers, it also brought a welcome break from swelling crowds and a rare chance to slow down and rethink their priorities. In a special episode, Lindsay Smith Rogers and Annalies Winny take a virtual tour to Aruba, Jamaica, Hawaii, and Senegal to learn how popular destinations have weighed economic stability against the risks of COVID outbreaks—and how they're rethinking some longstanding environmental and economic issues around tourism.

In 2020, scientists working on injury analytics expanded to COVID-19 epidemiology to help create and monitor the NBA bubble. Dr. Christina Mack, an epidemiologist with IQVIA Real World Solutions, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how the team continues to monitor the health and safety of players and staff, and some of the findings with real-world implications such as how long people can shed COVID-19 virus, if people with asymptomatic infections are less likely to transmit COVID, and whether boosters really work.

For immediate reaction to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe versus Wade, Dr. Josh Sharfstein speaks to Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, an obstetrician-gynecologist who leads Power to Decide, a nonprofit organization with the goal of ensuring that all people "have the power to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child."

First identified 50 years ago, Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness endemic to many parts of the U.S. While the acute infection can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed in time, 10-20% of people still go on to experience persistent symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and pain. Lyme expert John Aucott talks with Stephanie Desmon about how to prevent Lyme disease, what we know about chronic Lyme, and how long COVID is helping to draw attention to it and other diseases like chronic fatigue.

In a bonus episode, Alex McCourt, the director of legal research at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, speaks to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein about guns and the Supreme Court. They discuss this decision's meaning and direct impact, as well as the potential implications for other actions to reduce the toll of gun violence in the United States.

Johns Hopkins University hosted a live, virtual briefing earlier this month on responses to the crisis of gun violence featuring a panel of experts, including Cass Crifasi, Shannon Fratteroli, Josh Horwitz, Odis Johnson, and Daniel Webster. Moderated by Lainie Rutkow, the discussion focuses on the challenges gun violence poses for American democracy, which gun laws are effective, how Extreme Risk Protection Orders can help to prevent gun violence, research on public opinions about solutions, and measures to promote student safety and health in a time of rising gun violence.

Greater global cooperation could have saved many lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preparedness and response expert Lucia Mullen of the Center for Health Security talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the growing call to support such cooperation through a pandemic treaty . They also talk about mis- and disinformation that have emerged already, such as myths that a treaty could override countries' rights or give the World Health Organization sweeping power.

In 2021, Congress established Juneteenth as a federal holiday but many people don't know the history or how to recognize the day. Dr. Janice Bowie, an expert in community-engaged research, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how to celebrate, reflect, and recommit to social justice this Juneteenth.

An FDA advisory panel recommended Emergency Use Authorization for the two-dose Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 18+. The vaccine is built on a different technology than others currently authorized in the US, and significant delays in manufacturing and authorization have slowed down its entry into the US market. Vaccine expert Dr. Bill Moss returns to the podcast to talk with Lindsay Smith Rogers about Novavax and its potential and what's behind the delays.