Emerging Infectious Diseases Episodes

1141: Stopping Outbreaks Before They Spread: CDC’s Global Health Security Mission and World Cup Preparedness
June 8, 2026

1141: Stopping Outbreaks Before They Spread: CDC’s Global Health Security Mission and World Cup Preparedness

On today's episode, CDC's Paige Armstrong explains how the organization works with partners around the world to detect and contain emerging health threats before they reach U.S. communities. Also, Marcus Plescia from the Fulton County Board of Health in Atlanta discusses preparations underway for t…
1131: Tracking Emerging Threats & Global Accessibility Awareness
May 21, 2026

1131: Tracking Emerging Threats & Global Accessibility Awareness

On today's episode, ASTHO Vice President of Health Security, Meredith Allen, tells us about the ongoing monitoring response tied to an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. Later, Emily Lapayowker, assistant director of web content at ASTHO talks about Glo…
1126: Leadership, Trust, and the Future of Rural Health Investment
May 14, 2026

1126: Leadership, Trust, and the Future of Rural Health Investment

In this episode, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Government Affairs, Catherine Murphy, unpacks the ripple effects of ongoing changes at the Department of Health and Human Services and CDC. Later, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Susan Kansagra, zooms out to the state level, where leaders are racing to deploy …
1112: Inside Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance
April 23, 2026

1112: Inside Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance

On today's episode, CDC's Heather Reese discusses the Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program: a cutting-edge effort that turns international travel into an early warning system for public health threats.
1096: How the CDC Is Forecasting the Next Outbreak
March 31, 2026

1096: How the CDC Is Forecasting the Next Outbreak

On today's episode, CDC's Jason Asher joins us to explain how new data tools are transforming detection and response to infectious diseases.
1095: Inside New York’s Next-Gen Wadsworth Lab
March 30, 2026

1095: Inside New York’s Next-Gen Wadsworth Lab

On today's episode, ASTHO member James McDonald returns to the show to unpack the state’s investment in the new, state-of-the-art Wadsworth Center Laboratory.
1074: From Wastewater to Radiological Readiness: Detecting and Responding to Public Health Threats
Feb. 23, 2026

1074: From Wastewater to Radiological Readiness: Detecting and Responding to Public Health Threats

On today's episode, Allison Wheeler from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shares how her team detected measles in wastewater before clinical cases appeared, helping local partners identify an outbreak early to act quickly. Then, Ziad Kazzi from Emory University breaks down w…
1046: What State Policymakers Need to Know About Emerging Public Health Priorities in the New Year
Jan. 5, 2026

1046: What State Policymakers Need to Know About Emerging Public Health Priorities in the New Year

As part of our state health policy portfolio, ASTHO releases an annual Legislative Prospectus Series: policy briefs summarizing state and territorial legislation that impacts public health. Today, Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO’s CEO, will summarize the 2026 series, identify trends in public health law f…
1043: PHIG Funds Critical Services in New Hampshire
Dec. 16, 2025

1043: PHIG Funds Critical Services in New Hampshire

In today's PHIG Impact Report, Patricia Tilley, ASTHO member and associate commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, details the critical needs the Public Health Infrastructure Grant has helped address in her state.
1012: Public Health’s 40 Under 40, Litigation Round-up
Oct. 16, 2025

1012: Public Health’s 40 Under 40, Litigation Round-up

Amelia Poulin, assistant director of emerging infectious disease at ASTHO, discusses how she was recently recognized as an honoree of de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 under 40 in Public Health awards; Christina Severin, director of public health law at ASTHO, breaks down her recent Health Policy Update,…
984: Childhood Vaccination Efforts; FY26 Public Health Funding
Sept. 5, 2025

984: Childhood Vaccination Efforts; FY26 Public Health Funding

Dr. Arti Barnes, chief medical officer at the Illinois Department of Public Health, describes how her agency is working collaboratively with other state departments to enhance access to pediatric vaccinations; Jeffrey Ekoma, senior director of government affairs at ASTHO, discusses changes to the C…
975: CANNRA Priorities, ASTHO INSPIRE Web Page
Aug. 22, 2025

975: CANNRA Priorities, ASTHO INSPIRE Web Page

Dr. Gillian Schauer, director of the Cannabis Regulators Association, discusses the recent Cannabis Regulators Association external stakeholders meeting; Amelia Poulin, ASTHO assistant director of emerging infectious disease...
970: Respiratory Virus Season Briefing, CICT Course
Aug. 15, 2025

970: Respiratory Virus Season Briefing, CICT Course

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO chief medical officer, Dr. Scott Harris, ASTHO president and state health Officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, Dr. Ayanna Bennett, director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, and Dr. Manisha Juthani, ASTHO presid…
948: ASTHO CEO on PH Workforce Data, STI Testing Trends
July 16, 2025

948: ASTHO CEO on PH Workforce Data, STI Testing Trends

Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, shares how ASTHO will use the Public Health Workforce Interest and Needs Survey (PH WINS) to guide national public health priorities; Emma Pliskin, research scientist at Child Trends, shares what their new study reveals about trends in STI testing...
912: AAFP on Patient Mental Health, Disease Intervention Specialists
May 22, 2025

912: AAFP on Patient Mental Health, Disease Intervention Specialists

Dr. Sarah Nosal, president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians, discusses the importance of family physicians in regard to mental health; Amelia Poulin, ASTHO assistant director of emerging infectious disease...
892: PH Social Media Tool, Timely STI Testing
April 24, 2025

892: PH Social Media Tool, Timely STI Testing

Adrienne Ammerman, founder and CEO of Arclet, explains how her platform will help health communicators; Amelia Poulin, ASTHO assistant director of emerging infectious disease, breaks down a blog article on what states are doing to combat syphilis and...
888: Historic Strides For Overdose Prevention, SLF Advocacy Roundup
April 18, 2025

888: Historic Strides For Overdose Prevention, SLF Advocacy Roundup

Dr. Allison Arwady, director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC, tells us about historic progress in the field of overdose prevention; Catherine Murphy, ASTHO government affairs analyst, discusses the advocacy effort...
874: Federal Funding Update; Transition Feeding Resources
March 31, 2025

874: Federal Funding Update; Transition Feeding Resources

Dr. Susan Kansagra, ASTHO chief medical officer, offers an update on funding after a flurry of activity; Martha Hagen, consultant nutritionist with the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, explains the cultural focus of new transition...
871: Hypertension in Prenatal Care, Newscast Award
March 26, 2025

871: Hypertension in Prenatal Care, Newscast Award

Maria Gabriela Ruiz, an analyst on ASTHO’s maternal and infant health team, discusses a new ASTHO resource on strategies to use during prenatal care to address hypertension and other chronic diseases; Warren Villagomez, director of...
868: States Address Sepsis, CR Continues Funding PH
March 21, 2025

868: States Address Sepsis, CR Continues Funding PH

Erin Laird, ASTHO director of emerging infections, explains how states are taking action against sepsis; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for government affairs, tells us how the recently signed continuing resolution affects funding for public...
665: Syphilis Warm Line, Equity Work Recognized
May 15, 2024

665: Syphilis Warm Line, Equity Work Recognized

Dr. Maura Quinlan, women's health medical advisor for the Illinois Department of Public Health, describes Illinois’ warm line for syphilis and congenital syphilis cases; Patrick Luces, program coordinator for the NCD Prevention and Control Program,...
661: PH Adopts EJ Priorities, Health Forecasts Model Weather Service Approach
May 9, 2024

661: PH Adopts EJ Priorities, Health Forecasts Model Weather Service Approach

Anil Nair, director for the Division of Environmental Health Epidemiology within the Department of Health in Pennsylvania, says their state is taking a deeper look at environmental justice; Dr. Dylan George, director of the Center for Forecasting and...
560: Businesses Supporting Public Health, Guide Helps Agencies with Antibiotic Stewardship
Dec. 8, 2023

560: Businesses Supporting Public Health, Guide Helps Agencies with Antibiotic Stewardship

Dr. Jerome Adams, former United States Surgeon General, says businesses learned from the pandemic that public health is a worthy investment; Destani Bizune, an epidemiologist in the Office of Antibiotic Stewardship at the CDC, discusses the CDC’s...
559: Policy Ideas Address Maternal Morbidity, Investment in the 9-8-8 Hotline
Dec. 7, 2023

559: Policy Ideas Address Maternal Morbidity, Investment in the 9-8-8 Hotline

Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, examines the third edition of the state’s maternal morbidity and mortality report; Dr. Umair Shah, secretary of health for the Washington State Department of Health, discusses...