Osterholm Update

Cyclospora: Then and Now

Cyclospora cases continue to climb in the U.S. but this isn’t the first time we’ve had a multi-state outbreak linked to produce. Back in 1996, there was a major cyclospora outbreak across several states due to imported raspberries. It begs the question, have we learned anything from the past? Or are we repeating history all over again? This week hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm focus on the cyclosporiasis outbreak, from the latest numbers, to how state and federal officials, as well as the media, have handled it all. They’ll break down the latest epidemiologic data and discuss how this response compares to a multi-state outbreak in 1996. Dr. Osterholm also talks about the latest on Ebola in the DRC, the measles outbreaks across the U.S. and a potential uptick in COVID-19 cases.   Links:An Outbreak in 1996 of Cyclosporiasis Associated with Imported Raspberries (The New England Journal of Medicine) When People Got Sick: Cyclospora Outbreak, July 2026 (CDC) The Cyclospora outbreak was, and still is, a communications failure (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

Cyclospora, Ticks, and Mosquitoes: Summertime Threats

We all look forward to summer, that time of year when we can spend more time outside and less time worrying about things like colds and flu. However, the warm summer months can bring their own infectious disease threats, whether it's ticks, mosquitoes, or foodborne parasites. This week, hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm discuss some of these summertime infectious disease threats, from the growing cyclospora outbreak in the US, to new research that suggests the tickborne allergy alpha-gal syndrome may be under-recognized. They'll also bring you the latest on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo,  and answer a question about the World Cup.  Links:Workers at an Ebola treatment center in Congo strike over unpaid salaries and bonuses (The Associated Press)What we truly know about the huge US Cyclospora outbreak—and what we don’t (CIDRAP)1 in 4 adults in tick-heavy states test positive for alpha-gal antibodies (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

Episode 212: Major Roadblocks

As the Ebola crisis continues to escalate in the DRC, we must ask: what will it take to end this outbreak? This is one of many questions Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm will discuss in this week’s episode. They’ll also cover the flu outbreak at a Texas Air Force base, consider what some newly released CDC emails reveal about the tenure of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, and examine some recent studies on the effectiveness of last season's COVID vaccines. Plus, answering how New World screwworm could affect wildlife and another installment of This Week in Public Health History.  Links:Ebola Symptoms in Current Outbreak May Be Milder Than in Previous Ones (New York Times)New CDC Leaders Vow to Boost Skeleton Staff Left After. DOGE Cuts (Bloomberg)  Vaccine RCT spreadsheet aims to show the data, dispel myths about vaccines (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

Episode 211: A System Held With Duct Tape

This week, Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm bring the latest on the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, what the World Cup means from a public health perspective, as well as explain what screwworm is and how it could threaten US livestock. They’ll also have updates on the hantavirus outbreak, discuss how the US could likely lose its measles elimination status, and give you an update on COVID and other respiratory infections. Plus, the latest installment of This Week in Public Health History.  Links:The ‘diseases of crowds’ experts say could be at the World Cup (CIDRAP) Africa CDC head warns Ebola outbreak could be worst ever (CIDRAP) 20 Years of HPV Vaccine Success (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

Episode 210: Ebola: What the Past Tells Us about the Present

This week on the Osterholm Update, Dr. Michael Osterholm and Chris Dall focus on the developing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, discussing the U.S. response, whether transmission can be airborne, and addressing travel concerns to Africa. We’ll also bring you the latest on the hantavirus outbreak, review a long-awaited report from the FDA on pediatric deaths linked to COVID vaccines, and provide updates on measles and other respiratory viruses. Plus, a Public Health History segment highlighting the first EMS service in the U.S.  Links:‘Among the things he feared most was death’: the doctors and nurses dying on the Ebola frontline (The Guardian) Inside the Ebola Epicenter, the Virus Rages With Little to Stop It (The New York Times) Opinion: This Ebola outbreak is a test the world doesn't have to fail (The Washington Post)People with Ebola pose little risk to public in US, experts say (CIDRAP) Transmission of Ebola Viruses: What We Know and What We Do Not Know (ASM Journals) Public Health Alerts: Andes Hantavirus Outbreak on a Cruise Ship, 2026 (NEJM and 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