Podcast Summary
Dengue Fever Outbreak: Dengue fever, with over 10 million reported cases in the Americas in 2024, is spreading rapidly due to climate change and putting a strain on healthcare systems, particularly in Brazil
Dengue fever, also known as "break bone fever," is experiencing its worst year on record with over 10 million reported cases in the Americas in just six months of 2024. The disease, which causes intense bone pain, nausea, vomiting, and a rash, is spreading rapidly due to climate change and is now being reported in areas where it was previously unknown, such as Europe and parts of Asia. The increase in cases is putting a strain on healthcare systems, particularly in Brazil, which accounts for the majority of reported cases. The conversation also touched upon Disney's growth and the potential erosion of what made it unique. However, the most pressing concern is the urgent need to address the dengue fever outbreak and prevent its further spread.
Dengue Factors: Climate change, cyclical nature, travel, and mosquitoes are driving the ongoing global dengue fever outbreak, leading to record-breaking cases in countries like Brazil and concerns of local transmission through travel
The ongoing global dengue fever outbreak is being driven by several factors, including climate change, the cyclical nature of the virus, increased travel, and the persistence of mosquitoes. These factors have led to record-breaking outbreaks in countries like Brazil, which has reported over 8 million cases this year. While Brazil has been successful in managing fatal cases, the goal is to reduce hospitalizations and eliminate deaths. Strategies include vaccines like Denvaxia and Kidenga, as well as releasing mosquitoes infected with disease-preventing bacteria. Dengue has spread beyond its traditional regions, with cases reported in Western Europe and the continental United States. With increased travel, there is a concern that more cases will be imported and lead to local transmission. In the first six months of 2024, there have already been double the number of travel-associated cases compared to the same period last year. In Puerto Rico, a public health emergency has been declared due to the dengue outbreak.
Dengue fever spread: Dengue fever cases are increasing and spreading to new areas, requiring clinicians to test for it and individuals to protect themselves with insect repellent, long sleeves, and long pants.
Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease, is becoming more common and spreading to areas where it wasn't previously found. Dr. Gabriela Paz Bailey from the CDC in Puerto Rico warns that cases are increasing and expects them to continue doing so over the summer. She advises clinicians to test for Dengue when they have a patient with fever who has traveled to a Dengue-prone area. In the meantime, individuals can protect themselves by wearing insect repellent, long sleeves, and long pants, even in hot weather. While this may not be ideal, it's important to prioritize health and safety. The upcoming Olympics in France has also raised concerns about Dengue, as it's a popular tourist destination. Quince, a company that offers high-quality essentials for travel, is a sponsor of this podcast. They emphasize the importance of ethical and responsible manufacturing practices. Noom, another sponsor, focuses on the psychological aspects of eating habits to help individuals build sustainable eating patterns. Vanta, a security automation platform, helps companies demonstrate top-notch security practices and build customer trust by automating compliance for SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
Neglected tropical diseases and Olympics: Neglected tropical diseases like Dengue, which affect over 1.6 billion people, can spread rapidly during large events like the Olympics due to increased population density and changing climate. Mosquito control measures and awareness campaigns can help mitigate the risk.
Neglected tropical diseases, despite being prevalent and affecting over 1.6 billion people worldwide, often receive less attention due to economic and market factors. For instance, the Olympics, which attract a large number of people, can potentially become hotspots for diseases like Dengue. In Paris, the first mosquito control operation was initiated due to the risk of Dengue outbreak during the Olympics. The disease is transmitted through mosquitoes and can spread rapidly if not contained. The changing climate and increasing temperatures have allowed mosquitoes to thrive in new areas, making it an international problem. The upcoming Olympics in Paris, with an expected influx of 15 million people, poses a risk of Dengue spreading. However, there are also factors mitigating the risk, such as increased awareness and mosquito control measures. Overall, it's essential to recognize the prevalence and importance of neglected tropical diseases and the impact of various factors on their spread.
Dengue fever at Olympics: French authorities taking measures to prevent dengue fever outbreak during Olympics, disease fastest growing mosquito-borne illness causing significant productivity loss and unnecessary deaths, global attention on dengue can raise awareness and prevent future outbreaks, COVID-19 pandemic opened global ears to disease issues
French authorities are taking active measures to prevent a potential dengue fever outbreak during the Olympics by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and having a response system in place. The disease, which has escalated from nine countries in 1970 to 120 countries today, is the fastest growing mosquito-borne disease in the world and can cause significant productivity loss and unnecessary deaths. Having dengue featured at the Olympics, a global stage, can help raise awareness about the disease and its potential impact. It's a reminder that time wasted on diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential can lead to a huge amount of avoidable suffering in communities. Despite the regret that it took so long for dengue to gain global attention, the COVID-19 pandemic has opened our global ears to these issues, and there's hope for the future. So, have a great time at the Olympics, stay safe, and enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Neglected Tropical Diseases Awareness: Collaborative efforts from various professionals including directors, producers, editors, fact-checkers, and mixers are essential in raising awareness and changing perception of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Marianne Compare, the director at the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases, is working to change the perception of these diseases from "neglected." To help spread awareness, she produced a show with assistance from Peter Balanon-Rosen, which will be discussed on Today Explained. The show was edited by Mosquito Matthew Colette, fact-checked by Amna Al-Sati and Laura Bullard, and mixed by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristin's daughter. On Friday, the show will cover the debut of breaking at the Olympics. Overall, this collaboration demonstrates the collective effort required to bring attention to important issues and create meaningful change.