PODCAST | Zika, the Olympics, and Other Mass Gatherings

Do you know where and when Zika virus emerged? With the the 31st Olympiad in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the location thought to be the epicenter of the Zika outbreak in the Americas, this podcast examines the origins of Zika as well as the public health concerns regarding a potential pandemic. Fellows Beth Linas, Claire Schulkey, and Shobhana Gupta describe the history of the Zika virus and how mass gatherings, such as the Olympics, could spread disease. This episode includes a guest perspective on Zika, health systems, and global health from Bruce Y. Lee, Associate Professor in the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

PARTICIPANTS

Beth Linas, PhD (Host) – Epidemiologist 

2015-17 Executive Branch Fellow at the National Science Foundation (NSF)

Twitter: @bethlinas 

Claire Schulkey, PhD (Host) – Computational Biologist 

2015-17 Executive Branch Fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Shobhana Gupta,MD, PhD – Physician Scientist

2015-17 Executive Branch Fellow at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Twitter: @_shobhana_

Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA - Physician Scientist

Associate Professor, Department of International Health

Executive Director, Global Obesity Prevention Center

Director, Operations Research, International Vaccine Access Center

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Twitter: @bruce_y_lee

PRODUCERS

Richard Ames, PhD - Engineer

2015-16 Executive Branch Fellow at the Department of Defense (DoD)

** A production by the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows, the Sci on the Fly podcast seeks to encourage public dialogue on science and science policy. Complementing the Sci on the Fly blog, it helps explain and illuminate the best stories shaping the world of science policy. 

Photo: James Gathany, Scientific Photographer, CDC