Thanksgiving myths meet infectious history in this episode exploring Pilgrims, Indigenous nations, and the epidemics that shaped early America.

Heather discusses the data showing zero correlation between vaccines and autism.

Explore how modern medicine, agriculture, global systems and our individual choices fuel drug-resistant microbes. A clear, compelling look at the growing antimicrobial resistance crisis.

Rift Valley fever outbreak 2025: how the virus spreads from livestock to people in Mauritania, Senegal, and beyond.

Infectious Dose is a science-forward podcast by virologist-turned-science-writer Heather McSharry, PhD, breaking down vaccine myths, viral threats, and public health headlines — one episode at a time.

SummaryHoliday 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 heal...

Infectious Dose is a science-forward podcast by virologist-turned-science-writer Heather McSharry, PhD, breaking down vaccine myths, viral threats, and public health headlines — one episode at a time.

@danielleshine.dietitian and I were all set to post our usual Halloween content until this truly horrifying (yet predictable) collaboration between die-hard MAHA influencers Moms Across America, Courtney Swan, MAHA Mommas, and the MAHA Mom Coalition dropped.Yikes. The sheer amount of misinformation packed into one post is genuinely frightening, and far too dangerous to ignore. Swipe through to see our evidence-based corrections–WITH receipts.Beware of people like this: so deeply entrenched in misinformation, pseudoscience, and conspiracy that they’ve lost sight of reality. They thrive in groups and, like a cult, are always recruiting new members.The content they produce is harmful: it’s filled with falsehoods that influence other people’s choices about health and nutrition. Deliberately discrediting qualified experts like dietitians is a calculated tactic to create distrust of evidence-based science and healthcare–a hallmark of medical conspiracism the wellness industry thrives on. Spreading misinformation about health and nutrition is reckless, dangerous, and causes preventable illness and death. When people forgo credible health interventions in favor of pseudoscience, they die more often and faster. That’s true for infectious diseases, cancer, and nutrition. MAHA influencers distract with fake risks of tap water, Wi-Fi, and cooking utensils, while their figurehead, RFK Jr, is destroying evidence-based science and public health right in front of us. Creating blanket fear of “chemicals” that don’t pose a risk to you doesn’t improve health. The truth? MAHA is not about health or safety. RFK Jr. is firing experts, gutting research and regulation, defunding food and healthcare support, and undoing decades of progress in disease prevention. That’s the real nightmare.

Explore the vaccine discovery process from ancient practices to mRNA vaccines. Learn how scientists overcame challenges to save lives.

Changes in the vaccine advisory process in the United States have disrupted immunization guidance, which reinforces the need for independent evidence review to inform decisions regarding immunizati...

American fertility rates, like those of most countries, have been dropping since about 1960 for many reasons related to broad social, economic, technological and demographic changes. At a White House ...