All Blog Posts

Summary Holiday travel is stressful enough without adding surprise stomach bugs or mid-flight fevers to the mix.  In this episode of Infectious Dose , we get practical — not paranoid — about staying healthy on the road. From what to pack in your carry-on (hello, sanitizer and snacks) to navigating airport crowds, plane air, travel germs, kid meltdowns, and post-trip weird rashes, we’re covering it all with science, humor, and zero shame. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers

Discover the true stories behind eye-invading parasites in Outbreak After Dark, the new monthly series within Infectious Dose with Dr. Heather McSharry. Hear about Loa loa, river blindness, eye-eating amoebas, and more in this chilling, science-based medical horror episode.

A neurologist lectures on encephalitis lethargica—the real “sleepy sickness”—until science and nightmare blur in this Month of the Macabre episode from Infectious Dose.

The R@VN: Requiem for the Antivaxxers — a dark reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, where a vaccine denier’s smart-home AI bears witness to his paralysis from polio. A gothic warning about science denial in the age of technology.

Did a hallucinogenic fungus fuel the Salem witch trials? This Infectious Dose episode explores the ergotism theory—and why the truth remains uncertain.

A deadly pneumonia outbreak strikes a downtown hotel. No clear cause. No time to lose. Step into a 1970s public health mystery in this Halloween special: Pneumonia Noir.

Virologist Jim Alwine on pandemic surveillance, research rules, lab-leak politics, and how to rebuild smart public health systems—before the next crisis hits.

Sociologist–organizer Jon Shaffer, PhD, joins Infectious Dose to explain why organizing—not just evidence—wins public-health protections, how DPH is building state teams, and what you can do next. 

West Nile virus is resurging. Explore global updates, U.S. cases, and how this mosquito-borne threat invades the human brain.

A science communicator shares her process for spotting misinformation, cross-checking claims, and sorting fact from fiction.

Heather brings you a bonus mini Booster Dose episode to explain everything you need to know about the changes in FDA approved access to fall COVID shots.

Back-to-school means germs. Learn about common fall outbreaks, prevention tips, vaccine schedules, and school policies in this survival guide for parents.

Flesh-eating bacteria are no longer rare, and Vibrio vulnificus is leading the charge. From Florida to Cape Cod, this episode unpacks how a warming ocean is fueling its rise — and why no boat is big enough to protect us from what lies beneath the surface.

Chikungunya is sweeping through southern China in its largest recorded outbreak—and it’s not just a local problem. In this episode of Infectious Dose , I take you inside Foshan’s summer surge, unpack how this mosquito-borne virus travels the globe, and explore why its painful symptoms can linger for months or even years. You’ll hear how two species of mosquitoes are redrawing the map of where chikungunya can strike, why genetic changes have made it more adaptable, and what pu

A curated “booster” episode of Infectious Dose that guides listeners through vaccine safety, misinformation, and science—perfect for Immunization Awareness Month.

Summary Dying of Thirst: Cholera in the Age of Abundance  dives into one of the most underreported but devastating public health emergencies of our time. In 2025, cholera—a disease we know how to prevent and treat—is resurging across the globe. From Sudan’s displaced children to Angola’s overflowing hospitals and the flooded gold fields of the DRC, thousands are dying not because of medical mystery, but because of systemic neglect. This episode brings you inside the crisis th

From Stephen King’s Cujo to a chilling Criminal Minds twist, rabies has infected more than the body—it’s haunted the screen for decades. In this episode, Heather unravels how rabies—through its terrifying biology—evolved into a cultural icon of madness, fear, and transformation.

Virologist-turned-science-writer Heather McSharry, PhD shares why she left her blog/podcast — and what brought her back. A personal episode about clarity, purpose, and rebooting.

A deep dive into how polio—once nearly eradicated—is making a global comeback through vaccine-derived strains, low immunization, and public health setbacks. Heather unpacks the science, history, and urgency of stopping its return.

A Fourth of July Stand-up extravaganza in which Heather blows the lid off summer food poisoning & firework safety. And beneath the punchlines, she offers a genuine Stand Up for Science tribute to scientists doing the hard work in a country that’s making it harder every day.