Osterholm Update

Osterholm Update

A weekly report on the COVID-19 pandemic from infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH. Dr. Osterholm is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota and has spent a career investigating outbreaks. Since 2005, he has emphasized supply chain and other vulnerabilities and a critical need for pandemic preparedness. In this podcast, Dr. Osterholm dissects the latest COVID-19 news, data, and guidance. CIDRAP’s Chris Dall, MA, is the cohost of the Osterholm Update and a reporter for CIDRAP News. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu

Episodes

September 24, 2026
<p dir="ltr">Before 2025, we didn't spend too much time talking about measles on this podcast, and that's because there wasn't much of a need to. But ever since the measles outbreak in West Texas began in January 2025, it's become a regular topic of discussion, with the U.S. now at more than 6,000 confirmed cases since the beginning of that year. In this week's episode, hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm discuss the m...
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<p dir="ltr">This past August, Pennsylvania announced two measles-associated deaths in unvaccinated residents, marking the first measles deaths in the state in thirty-five years. This week, hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Micheal Osterholm discuss the two deaths and the controversy surrounding them. They'll also highlight takeaways from the independent review of COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines by CIDRAP's Vaccine Integrity Project, ans...
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<p dir="ltr"> As summer comes to a close, another chapter begins: back to school. But with that comes a lot of different public health challenges and some muddled guidance for parents. Like how do we deal with measles in schools? When's the best time for my kids to get their flu shot? And do I need to be worried about the blueberries in my child's lunchbox? Hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Micheal Osterholm will try to answer some of...
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<p dir="ltr">It’s been a whirlwind week of public health news from Washington, but hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm are here to make sense of it all. This week they answer your questions about the White House's executive order on childhood vaccines and other topics. Dr. Osterholm also discusses the approval of Moderna’s new mRNA flu vaccine, as well as updates on <em>cyclospora</em>, Ebola an...
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<p dir="ltr">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 ...
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<p dir="ltr">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 cyclosp...
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<p dir="ltr">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 re...
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<p dir="ltr">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 respirator...
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<p dir="ltr">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 ...
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<p dir="ltr">In Episode 209, Dr. Michael Osterholm and Chris Dall talk through the response to the hantavirus outbreak and the lingering questions about how the virus spreads. They also discuss a recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the latest findings from The Vaccine Integrity Project’s comprehensive review of peer-reviewed evidence on Tdap vaccination during pregnancy.</p> &...
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<p dir="ltr">This week on the Osterholm Update, Chris Dall and Dr. Osterholm dissect the latest results of Paxlovid trials and what they tell us about COVID-19. They'll also discuss a CDC study on COVID-19 vaccines that's been blocked by the acting CDC director, examine a survey that reveals the impact of changes to CDC messaging on vaccines and autism, explore the US Defense Secretary's decision to no longer require flu shot...
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<p dir="ltr">This week Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall talk about Erica Schwartz, the Trump's administration's most recent nomination for the CDC Director, as well as  changes to the charter of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Dr. Osterholm also examines a somewhat misleading Politico poll on public support for vaccines, provides a spring respiratory update and answers a listener's question about long COVID in w...
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<p dir="ltr">This week Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall focus on long COVID, tackling some listener questions and providing context about what long COVID is, its potential risks, as well as some of the latest research and reports about it. Dr. Osterholm also discusses the CDC's pause on testing for rabies and pox viruses, plus a respiratory update and the latest on US measles outbreaks. Dr. Osterholm also honors National Health W...
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<p dir="ltr">In "Disease Waits for No One," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss how a federal judge temporarily blocked Health Secretary RFK Jr's rollback of childhood vaccine&nbsp;recommendations. Has the damage of this administration's assault on US vaccine policy already been done? Or is there a chance&nbsp;it could be undone? They'll also dive into a&nbsp;report calling for sweeping changes to how the governm...
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<p dir="ltr">In "Holding the Tools" Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall dive into the latest COVID, flu and RSV activity, discuss the surge in norovirus cases, and provide an update on measles outbreaks across the Americas. Dr. Osterholm also shares the latest work from CIDRAP’s Vaccine Integrity Project, and honors a couple of different public health heroes for Women’s History Month.&nbsp;<br><br><a h...
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<p dir="ltr">In "Somebody to Lean On," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss vaccine updates including the FDA’s back-and-forth on the Moderna vaccine, leadership shake-ups at institutions like the CDC, and the current state of measles in the US. Dr. Osterholm will also bring you a respiratory virus update, including current vaccine guidance for flu, COVID and RSV.&nbsp;<br><br><a href="https://www.cid...
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<p dir="ltr">In "The Bells Still Ring," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss a recent poll on Americans’ trust in vaccine information from the CDC, the measles outbreaks in immigration detention centers, and explain the controversy over a US-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial in Africa. Dr. Osterholm will also bring you some good news on US funding for global health and answer an ID Query about Nipah virus.<br><b...
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<p>In "The Twilight Zone of Immunization," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss recent comments from CDC officials about measles, the US withdrawal from the WHO, and the latest mpox news. Dr. Osterholm also shares an update on this winter respiratory virus season and discusses the challenges that families are facing in accessing healthcare amid immigration enforcement surges in Minnesota.</p> <p><a href="https:...
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<p>In the 200th episode of the Osterholm Update, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss recent changes to the childhood immunization schedule, the latest data on this year's influenza season, and an update on CIDRAP's Vaccine Integrity Project. Osterholm Update producers Dr. Sydney Redepenning and Elise Holmes also join to discuss this milestone episode and reflect on how the podcast has evolved over the years.&nbsp;</p&...
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<p>In "Flu Takes Charge" Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall give us an update on the emerging flu season, Dr. Osterholm covers a new poll that shows fewer Americans are willing to recommend the MMR vaccine, and we'll hear about the Vaccine Integrity Project's latest video.</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5ZFnEfs9w0"><strong>Protecting Vaccine Integrity in 2025: Evidence, Access, and Public T...
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