Monkeypox and Polio: Mo' Viruses, Mo' Problems

On this week’s episode of the pod– we’re going viral (but not in the good way). We tackle two viruses that have been on our radar: monkeypox virus and poliovirus. We start our discussion focused on monkeypox– what it is, how it’s caused, how it’s spread, and clinical signs and symptoms. We provide a status update on the monkeypox update which (we hope) most will find comforting and optimistic. (TL;DR: We aren’t fully out of the weeds, but things appear to be slowing thanks to vaccines and behavioral change.) Next, we talk about polio. We didn’t see this coming, either, but here we are! We discuss why we’re seeing a resurgence of polio (spoiler alert: it has to do with low vaccination rates in pockets of the population). We discuss signs and symptoms, asymptomatic versus symptomatic infection, viral transmission modalities, and different outcomes associated with illness. We take a trip down polio vaccine memory lane (whattup, Jonas Salk!) and the importance of getting vaccinated as recommended. You don’t want to miss this episode! Check us out on Substack and Instagram: www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices