2025 Under the Microscope: The Events that Shaped Public Health

As 2026 begins, Contagion Podcast reflects on 2025, a year that tested global public health systems and reshaped how we think about infectious diseases, trust, and preparedness. In this special year in review episode, hosts Jackie Sherbuk and Vivian Vega examine the most consequential infectious disease and public health stories of the year—placing outbreaks, policy decisions, and scientific breakthroughs into clear clinical and societal context.

The episode begins by confronting one of the defining challenges of 2025: erosion of public trust in public health institutions amid leadership upheaval, funding cuts, and widespread misinformation. Against this backdrop, long-controlled diseases returned with force. Measles resurged across the United States and Europe, threatening elimination status and exposing the consequences of falling vaccination coverage. Influenza surged early and intensely, straining hospitals and disproportionately impacting children and older adults. Other vaccine-preventable diseases—including pertussis and polio—reemerged, reminding listeners that immunity gaps anywhere can place everyone at risk.

Beyond vaccines, the hosts explore global crises such as widespread cholera outbreaks driven by conflict, displacement, and climate-related flooding; ongoing tuberculosis transmission, including a major U.S. outbreak; and the expanding geographic reach of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile virus. They also discuss how viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, while limited in case numbers, continue to stress-test public health response systems worldwide.

Importantly, the episode closes on hope. Breakthroughs such as twice-yearly lenacapavir for HIV prevention represent a paradigm shift in prevention and equity. Historic progress toward eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B demonstrates what sustained investment and coordinated care can achieve. Above all, the hosts honor the resilience and dedication of healthcare and public-health professionals who continue to protect communities amid uncertainty.

This episode offers a thoughtful, candid look at 2025—and a reminder that preparedness, communication, and trust remain our most powerful tools.

Dr. Vega would like to thank her friend Job Meiller for his musical contributions, "One," and "Imagine," to our major segment breaks. Thank you, Job!

Thanks also to Dr. Ana Velez, our artistic contributor, for her artwork utilized in our episode thumbnails.