Contagion: An Infectious Diseases Podcast

In the Season one finale of our show, hosts Dr. Vivian Vega and Dr. Jackie Sherbuk reflect on the evolving landscape of infectious diseases and public health. Yet rather than linger on setbacks, they look ahead, posing the critical question: “What are the future pandemic threats?”

To explore what transforms a simple pathogen into a global threat, they examine three key characteristics: transmission, virulence, and available counterm...

It felt inevitable. Years of declining childhood vaccination rates were bound to have consequences. In early 2025, those consequences became alarmingly real as a measles outbreak emerged in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.

Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that measles infected three to four million Americans annually, causing 48,000 hosp...

Virology vanguard Dr. Bob Gallo is far from ready to slow down. Now in his seventh decade as one of America's top scientists, he could easily sit back and enjoy the fruits of his numerous and pioneering achievements. His groundbreaking work began in the 1970s with research into human retroviruses, including the discovery of the T-cell growth factor (IL-2) and the identification of the Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV-1) in 198...

Having just survived the calorie-fest of the Thanksgiving Holiday, show hosts Drs. Vivian Vega and Jackie Sherbuk reflect on the changing seasons--and that has them thinking NOT just about the weather, but about the climate. Here to discuss the impact of a changing climate on infectious diseases, they welcome Dr. Lauren Rybolt, Chief Infectious Diseases Fellow at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. Dr. Rybo...

They're back! Infectious Diseases Clinicians and show hosts Drs. Vivian Vega and Jackie Sherbuk reflect on the last few weeks since Episode 4. In the face of devastating storm surge from Hurricane Helene, and severe wind and flooding from Hurricane Milton, the Tampa Bay Area and its medical centers experienced a back to back punch, separated by only two weeks. This left some hospitals flooded, beaches seriously eroded, streets fill...

For our fourth episode, show hosts Dr. Vivian Vega and Dr. Jackie Sherbuk candidly admit that they've been spending a LOT of time thinking about "not-so-forgotten infectious diseases." These are syndromes that the public may not hear about everyday, but that are still very important to the medical community and to the public at large. Although it was the first human contagion ever successfully eradicated, Smallpox as ...

In our third episode, show hosts Dr. Vivian Vega and Dr. Jackie Sherbuk kick things off by discussing the latest news from the world of infectious diseases. Important topics highlighted include a Listeria outbreak linked to deli meat, a progress report on long acting medications for HIV prevention, and an update on bird flu (H5N1 Influenza) associated with poultry and dairy cattle.

With summer clearly in full swing, our main topic ...

In 2007, Australian former pro tennis player, former World No. 1 in doubles and US Open singles champion, Sam Stosur was at the top of her game, before succumbing to a mysterious illness that left her unable to play--with prolonged fatigue, severe headaches, chest pains, and weakness. She struggled for months before seeing an infectious diseases (ID) specialist who ultimately diagnosed her with a tick-borne illness. Sam tells her o...

In our inaugural episode, show hosts Drs. Vivian Vega and Jackie Sherbuk discuss the upcoming Summer travel season and important infections spread by contact with water. Vibrio vulnificus is a potentially deadly illness spreading in the U.S. due to climate change that peaks in the hottest summer months. Vivian discusses risk factors for exposure and how vulnerable individuals can stay safe. Next, Jackie shares three limericks tied ...