E. coli, Bird Flu, Diphtheria, & Cats with COVID | Inside Outbreaks | Dr Jay Varma & Dr Jon Epstein

In this week’s Inside Outbreaks from ThermometerHQ, Dr. Jay Varma and Dr. Jon Epstein review the latest developments shaping infectious disease and public health in the U.S. and globally.

We begin with a timely reminder for vaccination—flu and updated COVID shots—before turning some new events: Shiga toxin–producing E. coli linked to raw-milk cheese in the Pacific Northwest; the resurgence of avian influenza in U.S. poultry with implications for Thanksgiving turkeys and food prices; and expanding diphtheria outbreaks across the Horn of Africa fueled by conflict and disrupted immunization. We also highlight good news: strong African public health leadership has pushed the latest Ebola outbreak in DRC toward closure, underscoring how investment in surveillance, vaccination, and response saves lives.

Finally, we dive into a focus topic for pet owners: evidence that New York City cats, mostly indoor, were exposed to COVID during the first wave, almost certainly from their owners. What does that mean for you and your household? Practical advice on reducing risk to companion animals rounds out the episode.

Topics Discussed This Week
1. Why fall is the right time to get flu and updated COVID vaccines to reduce severe illness and long COVID.
2. Shiga toxin–producing E. coli linked to raw-milk cheese: risks of unpasteurized dairy, HUS in children, and why antibiotics can worsen certain GI infections.
3. Avian influenza’s return to U.S. poultry: how centralized farming accelerates spread, why depopulation affects supply, and likely impacts on turkey prices.
4. Diphtheria in conflict zones (Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Chad): the cost of disrupted immunization and how declining vaccination rates in the U.S. raise concern.
5. Ebola in DRC: ring vaccination, local surveillance, and African public health capacity driving a potential end to the outbreak.
6. Mississippi macaque crash: separating fact from fiction on pathogen risk, animal welfare, and public safety.
7. Cats and COVID: serologic evidence of exposure from owners, what symptoms to watch for, and simple steps to protect pets.
Keywords: infectious disease, outbreak, surveillance, public health, global health, ThermometerHQ, Inside Outbreaks, Dr. Jay Varma, Dr. Jon Epstein.

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🌐Find Dr. Jay Varma at https://drjayvarma.com

🌐Find Dr. Jon Epstein at https://onehealthscience.com

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