In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan, explores the complex world of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) alongside two esteemed guests: Dr. Dennis Bente, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Texas Medical Branch, and Dr. Saima Ali, Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Indus Hospital and Health Network. Together they discuss the origins, transmission, and geographical spread of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), discussing its substantial impact on rural health systems and the essential role of early diagnostic testing. With a focus on the challenges faced by health care workers and the crucial need for preventative measures and rapid response, this episode is a compelling look at how interconnected our global health landscape has become. Tune in to learn about the latest developments in vaccines, the significance of personal protective equipment, and the need for heightened awareness and preparedness in combating this often-overlooked yet serious pathogen.

Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.

Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.

Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine (Adult section)

Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN)

Dr. Saima Ali, FCPS, MHPE, is the head of the Department of Emergency Medicine (Adult Section) at the Indus Hospital and Health Network in Pakistan. She is a clinician educator and has an interest in EM curriculum development, and contextual educational research, and is an advocate of patients’ rights, safety, and maintaining the highest standards of quality healthcare in Emergency Medicine, rooted in social accountability.

Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

The University of Texas Medical Branch

Dr. Dennis Bente, DVM, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at UTMB Health. Bente is a globally-trained virologist, research scientist, and educator working to understand better the effects of tick-borne viruses on human and animal health. He co-hosts the podcast "The Infectious Science Podcast," which takes complex infectious disease topics and turns them into accessible and enjoyable listening for a broad audience.

Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA

Jill Morgan is a registered nurse and a subject matter expert in personal protective equipment (PPE) for NETEC. For 35 years, Jill has been an emergency department and critical care nurse, and now splits her time between education for NETEC and clinical research, most of it centering around infection prevention and personal protective equipment. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), ASTM International, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

• NETEC FAQ: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF): https://repository.netecweb.org/items/show/1693
• NETEC SBAR: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF): https://repository.netecweb.org/items/show/1865
• NETEC Health Care Facility Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Preparedness Checklist: https://repository.netecweb.org/items/show/1724
• NETEC Laboratory Resources: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever...

In this episode, NETEC’s Jill Morgan is joined by Dr. Joshua Wong, an internal medicine physician, an officer with the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and a medical officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Dengue Branch, to unpack the complexities of dengue and its global impact. As dengue cases reach record highs, they discuss the challenge of differentiating dengue from other illnesses and the crucial need for proper recognition and clinical management. The episode delves into the critical phases of dengue, the importance of accurate diagnosis through testing, and the protocols for managing severe dengue cases. With dengue posing a growing threat beyond traditional tropics, Dr. Wong also explores travel-related risks and prevention strategies and shares educational resources now available for clinicians. Join us for this essential episode to better understand the rising threat of dengue and the measures needed to control and treat it effectively.

Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.

Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.

Medical Officer, NCEZID/DVBD/Dengue Branch

Joshua Wong is a medical officer and epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stationed at the Dengue Branch in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. He graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency training in the Global Health Track in Internal Medicine at Stanford University. He served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Dengue Branch. After his fellowship, he remained at the branch to continue working on dengue vaccine activities and support the emergency response to dengue both domestically and abroad.

Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA

Jill Morgan is a registered nurse and a subject matter expert in personal protective equipment (PPE) for NETEC. For 35 years, Jill has been an emergency department and critical care nurse, and now splits her time between education for NETEC and clinical research, most of it centering around infection prevention and personal protective equipment. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), ASTM International, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

• CDC Dengue Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html
• CDC Areas with Risk of Dengue: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/areas-with-risk/index.html
• CDC Dengue Clinical Management Pocket Guide: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/hcp/pocketguide/index.html
• WHO Dengue Resources: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue
• Pan American Health Organization Spanish language resources: https://www.paho.org/es/herramienta-interactiva-algoritmos-para-manejo-clinico-casos-dengue
• Dengue: A Growing Problem With New Interventions

In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, Lauren Sauer, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and director of the Special Pathogens Research Network with NETEC, dives deep into the current state of H5N1 wastewater testing and surveillance with Dr. Jana Broadhurst.

Dr. Broadhurst, an associate professor in the UNMC College of Medicine and medical director at the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit Clinical Laboratory, shares her expertise on the complexities of monitoring H5N1, specifically focusing on the efficacy and significance of wastewater surveillance. They explore how wastewater monitoring has evolved, its role in early detection, and its integration with clinical testing strategies. Additionally, the conversation covers the challenges faced in clinical settings when diagnosing H5N1 and the innovative approaches being developed to enhance surveillance and detection.

Join us for an insightful discussion on the future of H5N1 surveillance, the importance of community-based monitoring, and the next steps needed to improve diagnostic capabilities to safeguard public health.

Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.

Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.

Jana Broadhurst, MD, PhD, DTM&H, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she directs the Infectious Diseases Diagnostics and Biopreparedness Council, Emerging Pathogens Laboratory, and U.S. Region 7 Special Pathogens Treatment Center clinical laboratory. As a clinical pathologist, microbiologist, and immunologist with expertise in emerging and high-consequence infectious disease research and response, Dr. Broadhurst works to develop and implement innovative tools to improve patient- and community-centered outcomes during infectious disease emergencies.

Lauren is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Core Faculty of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the director of the Special Pathogens Research Network.

She previously served as Director of Operations for the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness where she ran the inpatient COVID-19 biobank and served on the COVID-19 research steering committee for JHU. Lauren’s research focuses on human subjects research in bio-emergencies and disasters, in particular, ethical implementation of research and navigating the regulatory environment. The goal of her research is to provide health care facilities with the tools needed to conduct a clinical and operational research response in emergencies.

• NETEC Influenza A (H5N1) Resources: https://repository.netecweb.org/exhibits/show/influenza/h5n1
• NETEC Resource Library: https://repository.netecweb.org

The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center’s mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources.

Our vision is a sustainable infrastructure and culture of readiness for managing suspected and confirmed special pathogen incidents across the United States

In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan is joined by infectious disease expert Dr. Nahid Bhadelia to discuss the current Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in Rwanda. Recorded on October 17, 2024, this conversation delves into vital aspects including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare workers dealing with the outbreak. They discuss experimental treatments, mention Rwanda's use of an experimental vaccine, and emphasize that early detection and supportive care are pivotal in managing Marburg Virus Disease cases.

Dr. Bhadelia highlights Marburg's similarity to Ebola in terms of transmission and symptoms, while also stressing the importance of improving data collection and vigilance for viral hemorrhagic fevers. Moreover, the episode underlines the critical role of preparedness and education across healthcare systems and touches on global factors leading to increased outbreak frequency.

Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.

Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.

Founding Director, Boston University's Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases;

Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine;

Global Health Security, Boston University Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies

Dr. Bhadelia is the founding director of BU Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases. She is a board-certified infectious diseases physician and an Associate Professor at the BU School of Medicine. She served as the Senior Policy Advisor for Global COVID-19 Response for the White House COVID-19 Response Team in 2022-2023 and the interim Testing Coordinator for the White House MPOX Response Team.

Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA

Jill Morgan is a registered nurse and a subject matter expert in personal protective equipment (PPE) for NETEC. For 35 years, Jill has been an emergency department and critical care nurse, and now splits her time between education for NETEC and clinical research, most of it centering around infection prevention and personal protective equipment. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), ASTM International, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

• Transmission Interrupted Ep. 23: Back to the Basics – Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers and PPE: https://netec.org/transmission-interrupted/back-to-the-basics-viral-hemorrhagic-fevers-and-ppe/
• NETEC Resource Library Marburg Virus Disease Exhibit: https://repository.netecweb.org/exhibits/show/marburg/marburg
• NETEC FAQ: Marburg Virus Disease (MVD): https://repository.netecweb.org/exhibits/show/marburg/item/1890
• SBAR: Marburg Virus Disease (MVD): https://repository.netecweb.org/exhibits/show/marburg/item/1891
• NETEC Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) PPE Matrix: https://repository.netecweb.org/exhibits/show/marburg/item/1693
• NETEC Resource Library: https://repository.netecweb.org

The National...

Join NETEC hosts Lauren Sauer and Rachel Lookadoo for this special episode of Transmission Interrupted as the Pathogens in Pop Culture series continues. In this episode, Lauren and Rachel delve into the world of tabletop gaming with special guest Matt Leacock, renowned board game designer and creator of the widely popular cooperative game Pandemic. Together, they explore Matt’s experience creating the game and discuss how real-life pandemics and issues like global warming influence the design and creation of his tabletop games. From the positive reception of the game within the infectious disease and pandemic response communities to Matt’s upcoming climate change-focused game, Daybreak, this episode promises to be a captivating exploration of the intersection between gaming, education, and public health, offering a unique perspective on these critically important topics. So grab your headphones and join us for another intriguing episode of Transmission Interrupted.

Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.

Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.

Matt Leacock has been designing board games since he was very young and full time since 2014. He is best known as a designer of cooperative games, including Pandemic, Daybreak, and Forbidden Island. Pandemic, first published in 2008, has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and is available in over 30 languages. His latest game, Daybreak, challenges players to stop climate change. He lives in Sunnyvale, California. For information about Matt and his creations, visit Matt Leacock Games at www.leacock.com

Lauren is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Core Faculty of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the director of the Special Pathogens Research Network.

She previously served as Director of Operations for the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness where she ran the inpatient COVID-19 biobank and served on the COVID-19 research steering committee for JHU. Lauren’s research focuses on human subjects research in bio-emergencies and disasters, in particular, ethical implementation of research and navigating the regulatory environment. The goal of her research is to provide health care facilities with the tools needed to conduct a clinical and operational research response in emergencies.

Rachel Lookadoo is an Assistant Professor in the Epidemiology department of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and serves as the Deputy Director of the Center for Biosecurity, Biopreparedness, and Emerging Infectious Diseases. She also acts as the Director of Public Health Policy for the Water, Climate, and Health program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Ms. Lookadoo’s background is as an attorney, and she focuses on the various legal and regulatory issues that can arise in emergency preparedness and response. She specializes in public health impacts of climate change, healthcare surge events, isolation/quarantine law, crisis standards of care, infectious disease response, and general legal preparedness. Ms. Lookadoo also conducts emergency preparedness trainings and assessments for public health departments and healthcare facilities nationally. Ms. Lookadoo received her Juris Doctor degree from American University Washington College of Law,

In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we continue our Pathogens in Pop Culture series with an intriguing dive into the world of special pathogens in literature. Dr. Caitlin Rivers, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, joins us to examine the science behind the use of special pathogens in popular literature. We'll also examine the importance of adhering to reality or fictionalization when writing about pathogens and the power of storytelling in promoting public health practices.

Dr. Rivers is a Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is an epidemiologist specializing in preparedness and response for epidemics, pandemics, and deliberately occurring events. Dr. Rivers recently returned from an appointment as founding associate director of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr. Rivers has testified in front of the United States Congress on several occasions and is a frequent advisor to senior leaders at the state and federal levels. She served on the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team working on COVID-19 policies. Her writing has been published in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Rivers participated as author or contributor in influential reports that are guiding the US pandemic response, including National Coronavirus Response: A Roadmap to Reopening and Public Health Principles for a Phased Reopening During COVID-19: Guidance for Governors, the latter of which was used by the National Governors Association, the state of Maryland, and Washington, DC, to guide reopening plans.

Prior to joining the Center in 2017, Dr. Rivers worked as an epidemiologist for the US Army Public Health Center as a Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation Scholar. She also participated in a National Science and Technology Council Pandemic Prediction and Forecasting Science and Technology working group. Dr. Rivers serves as an Associate Editor of the journal Health Security.

Dr. Rivers has been awarded the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Faculty Award for Excellence in US Public Health Practice; the Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service; and a Department of Defense Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Research Transformation Scholarship. In 2015, she earned a PhD in genetics, bioinformatics, and computational biology from Virginia Tech. Her doctoral research focused on computational epidemiology, specifically modeling emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza A (H7N9), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and Ebola virus disease for public health support using nontraditional, publicly available sources of data. Dr. Rivers received an MPH with a concentration in infectious disease from Virginia Tech in 2013 and a BA in anthropology from the University of New Hampshire in 2011.

Lauren is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Core Faculty of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in the Johns Hopkins...

On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we welcome members of NETEC’s Special Pathogen Research Network to discuss their experiences as research personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic and Mpox outbreak. Join us as the team explores the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned from implementing research protocols at warp speed in time-sensitive and high-pressure environments.

Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.

Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.

Manager, Special Pathogens

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital

Christa is the Manager for the Special Pathogens Program at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital (PSHMC&CH). Her responsibilities include developing and maintaining a care team for the Special Pathogens Unit and developing policies, protocols, and educational and training plans. Christa manages the Special Pathogens Program that facilitates readiness throughout HHS Region 10 for emerging special pathogens. Christa collaborates with community, regional and national partners on all aspects of what it means to be a Regional Treatment Center for Emerging Special Pathogens.

Christa has her Master’s Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and is certified in Critical Care. She has over 30 years of critical care experience in the neurological/trauma ICU at PSHMC&CH.

Research Educator, General Clinical Research, Serious Communicable Disease Unit.

Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia

Barry is the Research Educator for the Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers (GCRC) at Emory University Hospital. His responsibility includes functioning as a liaison and educator for research teams that use the GCRC clinic and the inpatient nursing units where clinical trials are conducted. Barry's primary function is working with principal investigators and research coordinators, guiding them through the process of carrying out research studies. Barry also functions as a support nurse to the Serious Communicable Disease Unit and works as an instructor for the research-based phlebotomy program.

Barry has a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. He has been a registered nurse at Emory University Hospital for 27 years and has worked in the role of staff nurse, nurse educator, transplant nurse, research nurse, research coordinator for the liver transplant program, clinic manager, and unit charge nurse.

Program/Unit Director Biocontainment Unit

Department of Medicine

The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Jade Flinn graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in 2011 and Notre Dame of Maryland University in 2019. She is trained as a neurocritical care nurse, critical care transport nurse, and nurse education leader. Her role as the BCU unit director is to maintain the unit’s overall activation readiness including physical infrastructure, rostered personnel training, and systemic preparedness for capacity to safely care for patients infected with high consequence pathogens. Flinn also serves as a bedside clinical nurse in the Johns Hopkins intensive care units and during inter-hospital ground transports. Her professional interests revolve around representation of nursing in disaster preparedness and response, health care worker safety, and hospital emergency operations. Her most current work involves an international, multicenter COVID-19 clinical trial (Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial),...

On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we delve into the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) and its importance in responding to special pathogens and other emergencies. Join host Jill Morgan and special guests Kyesha Turner from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Darrell Ruby from Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Washington, and Ryan Tuckmeyer from Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, as they share their experiences and insights on how HICS ensures readiness, coordination, and effective response in the face of various scenarios.

The discussion will also touch on the importance of building foundations and solid structures for emergency management and provide information on available HICS resources and tools, including a new online HICS training course now available at NETEC. Join us on this informative episode of Transmission Interrupted as we uncover the intricacies of HICS for Special Pathogens Preparedness and explore the dynamic world of incident management in health care today.

Special Pathogen Program/Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC)

Providence Inland Northwest Washington

Darrell Ruby is the Regional Coordinator for the HHS Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), 1 of 13 in the nation at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital. Darrell has worked as an Emergency Manager for nearly 20 years at the local, regional, and state level when he was with Spokane Emergency Management and for the last 8 years at Providence. As an Emergency Manager for Providence Inland Northwest Washington, he was responsible for the Emergency Management Program for the five (5) Providence hospitals in Spokane and Stevens County that represent just over 1,000 licensed beds: a level 2 and 3 trauma centers for adults and pediatrics, two 25-bed Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), a specialty rehab facility, and stand-alone Ambulatory Surgery Center. He started working for Providence in September 2015. Prior to work at Providence, Darrell worked for the Spokane Department of Emergency Management for 11 years, as the Regional Coordinator for Washington State Homeland Security (HLS) Region 9 (6 years) and as a Program Coordinator (5 years). Region 9 is comprised of the 10 counties and three tribes of Eastern Washington. In that role, he supported regional collaboration, coordination, and an interagency approach to all-hazard emergency preparedness. He has worked in all phases of emergency management, supporting planning, training, and exercises, HLS grants, and grant-related projects. Darrell continues to support community-wide planning on behalf of Providence. Darrell has an undergraduate degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in business, and retired from the naval reserve as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer December 1, 2015 (12 years active, 13 years reserve). He is most proud to be happily married (30+ years) and the father of three kids +1 (married daughter).

Director of Emergency Management

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Ryan is the Director of Emergency Management for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He organizes the medical center’s emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. He also serves as a liaison between hospitals, clinics, and pre-hospital providers in the western region of Los Angeles. County. He is a member of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team for Los Angeles County (DMAT CA-9) and has deployed for exercises and disaster events, including hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike. He is also a member of the California Medical Assistance Team and has deployed for the COVID and wildfires responses.

Manager,