Published by LSHTM
An award-winning podcast focusing on the science behind public and global health, and solutions to improve health and health equity worldwide. Brought to you from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Listen on Apple Podcasts18 min
In this episode of LSHTM Viral, hosts Karl Byrne and Naomi Stewart explore the return of an old disease making new headlines: polio. While global health initiatives have reduced the global polio burden by more than 99% since 1988, the fight is far from over. With the virus recently detected in London's wastewater and vital surveillance funding facing cuts, the risk of resurgence is a terrifying reality. We explore the lifelong toll of the virus with polio survivor and advocate Anne Wafula Strike, tracking her journey from childhood exclusion in Kenya to a Paralympian wheelchair racer for Team GB. Professor Sir Andrew Pollard of Oxford University breaks down the critical differences between the inactivated polio vaccine used in the UK and the live oral vaccines used globally, shedding light on how logistical hurdles - like the cost of bus fare and lack of access to healthcare advice - are driving down childhood immunisation rates. Finally, Dr. Zubair Wadood from the WHO tackles vaccine misinformation and explains the complex geopolitics of conflict zones and community scepticism that stand in the way of that final 1% of global eradication. The foothold polio retains is a masterclass in what happens when we stop paying attention. Join us as we examine what it takes to hold the line for global health security. Guests: · Anne Wafula Strike : Polio survivor and Team Anti-Polio ambassador, discussing stigma, post-polio syndrome, and sport as an advocacy platform. · Professor Sir Andrew Pollard : Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, explaining wastewater detection, vaccine-derived mutations, and systemic barriers to UK vaccine access. · Dr. Zubair Wadood: Medical Epidemiologist from the WHO, debunking the myth that vaccines cause polio and outlining the strategy for eliminating the virus in its final endemic regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Episode Chapters: · 00:00 – Introduction: An old disease making new headlines. · 00:37 – The early warning system: London's wastewater surveillance and funding cuts. · 01:19 – The lived reality: Surviving polio, childhood stigma, and post-polio syndrome. · 03:47 – From the sidelines to the Paralympics: Advocating for global awareness. · 05:51 – Breaking down the science: Inactivated vaccines versus oral vaccines. · 08:40 – Debunking the myth: Patchy coverage and variant polio strains. · 09:37 – Access and logistics: The real reasons UK vaccination rates are dropping. · 13:10 – The final 1%: Geopolitics and conflict zones. · 16:08 – Holding the line: The critical need for global health security and funding.
17 min
If your morning commute sounds coughier than usual, you aren't imagining things. Reports confirm that the UK flu season has kicked off weeks ahead of schedule. With COVID-19 and RSV also circulating, are we facing a "tripledemic"? And why does the flu virus shape-shift enough to require a new vaccine every single autumn? In this episode, host Karl Byrne sits down with Professor Punam Mangtani , a leading epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), to decode the data behind this year's outbreak. They explain the difference between the H1N1 and H3N2 strains, why the UK looks to Australia for warning signs, and the biological "typo" that causes the virus to drift away from our immune system's memory. Plus, we look at how mRNA vaccine technology can help us tackle flu pandemics faster, and ask: Are we getting closer to a "universal" vaccine? In this episode, we cover: 01:45 – The Early Surge: Why school data signals a difficult winter ahead. 02:4 8 – The Australia Warning: What the Southern Hemisphere tells us about case numbers vs. severity. 03:50 – H3N2 vs. H1N1: Decoding the alphabet soup of viral strains. 05:13 – The Tripledemic: How Flu, RSV, and COVID-19 interact (and why you probably won't catch them all at once). 07:10 – Antigenic Drift: The molecular reason why last year's vaccine won't protect you this year. 08:35 – The Prediction Game: How the WHO selects vaccine strains months in advance. 10:37 – 60% effectiveness?: How effective must a vaccine be in order to be thought of as good? 12:55 – The Holy Grail: The latest research on Universal Flu Vaccines. 14:23 – Prevention: Why surface cleaning works better for Flu than it did for COVID. Guest: Professor Punam Mangtani – Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at LSHTM and expert in respiratory viruses, vaccine effectiveness, and public health surveillance. Learn more: LSHTM Vaccine Centre Expert Comment: Why the UK is expecting a bad flu season Credits: Host: Karl Byrne Producer: Karl Byrne Editor: Karl Byrne Follow us on social media: Twitter: @LSHTM Instagram: @LSHTM #LSHTM #GlobalHealth #Flu #H3N2 #PublicHealth #Vaccines #Epidemiology #Tripledemic
25 min
Why do we fall for false or misleading information about our health? And in a world flooded with viral claims and conspiracy theories, how can we fight back? On September 15th 2025, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine brought together world-leading experts to tackle one of the most urgent threats to public health: misinformation. In this special episode, host Karl Byrne takes you inside the event to unpack the key takeaways. You'll hear from behavioural scientists on the psychology of "pre-bunking" and why our emotions make us vulnerable; journalists on the practical challenges of verifying news in a 24/7 cycle; and global health experts on how the fight looks different from West Africa to the UK. Featuring insights from Professor Sir Chris Whitty (Chief Medical Officer for England), Professor Sander van der Linden (University of Cambridge), LSHTM researchers, experts from BBC Media Action, PA Media, and international organisations. This episode explores the timeless techniques behind the misinformation machine, how we can effectively fight it and asks what it will take to rebuild trust. This isn't just a discussion about fake news- it's about finding clarity in the chaos. Find out more about the network to fight health misinformation in the UK and how you can help.
17 min
This summer, chikungunya has been making headlines — with more than 7,000 cases reported in China’s Guangdong province and tens of thousands more across the Indian Ocean islands. Even parts of Europe, including France and Italy, have seen local transmission. But what exactly is chikungunya? How does it spread, what symptoms does it cause, and could it become a risk in cooler countries like the UK? Host Karl Byrne is joined by Dr Doris Kemunto Nyamwaya from The MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit to unpack what we know about chikungunya, why public health experts are watching it so closely, and whether vaccines might change the picture. Click here to find out more about LSHTM's courses, including the MSc Epidemiology mentioned in the episode
45 min
Cases of measles are on the rise globally, including in Europe, Central Asia, and North America. In the UK, cases are the highest they've been in 25 years. But why? Join hosts Naomi Stewart and Karl Byrne in this bonus episode of LSHTM Viral as they speak to Professor Liam Smeeth, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine about the very real consequences of the highly contagious disease and the damage of false claims about the MMR vaccine dating back to the 90s. We also speak to Professor Heidi Larson, Director of The Vaccine Confidence Project about the rates of trust in vaccines globally and how to engage with empathy to tackle falling vaccination coverage. To find out more about studying immunology and infectious diseases at LSHTM, visit our website. Bluesky: @LSHTM Instagram: @LSHTM Facebook: @LSHTM LinkedIn: @LSHTM
20 min
Ever had a sudden, gut-wrenching bout of vomiting and diarrhoea? You’re not alone—norovirus, the infamous ‘winter vomiting bug,’ has been wreaking havoc across the UK. But why are cases so high this year? And how can you protect yourself? In this special episode, Karl speaks to LSHTM expert Dr Damien Tully to break down the science behind norovirus, how it spreads, and why cruise ships are often the perfect storm for outbreaks. We also discuss the latest infection figures, the strain on the NHS, and practical ways to avoid infection. Ranked 4th globally for infectious diseases in 2024, LSHTM provides a renowned learning environment with research-led teaching. For more information about LSHTM's programmes in infectious diseases and how to apply, please visit: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/courses/infectious-and-tropical-diseases-programmes
12 min
In this bonus episode of LSHTM Viral, we explore human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus recently making headlines due to an outbreak in China and rising cases in the UK. But is this something we should be worried about? Host Karl Byrne is joined by Professor Martin Hibberd, an expert in emerging infectious diseases at LSHTM, to break down what HMPV is, how it compares to other respiratory viruses like flu and RSV, and why it’s unlikely to cause a pandemic. They discuss how to protect yourself from seasonal respiratory infections and what global health experts are watching for in future outbreaks. To find out more about Outbreak Analytics short course and others, visit our website . Bluesky: @LSHTM Instagram: @LSHTM Facebook: @LSHTM LinkedIn: @LSHTM
6 min
Join Amy and Karl as they reflect on the LSHTM Viral season 3. They discuss how far have we come with vaccinations worldwide and key takeaways from the expert discussions throughout the season. Thank you to all the experts who appeared on the podcast and the dedicated LSHTM Viral listeners that helped LSHTM Viral win a Gold CASE Award for Digital Communications (Frequent Podcast Category). Goodbye for now!
25 min
In this episode of LSHTM Viral, Karl Byrne speaks with Beate Kampmann, Professor of Paediatric Infection & Immunity and Director of the Vaccine Centre at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. They delve into the future of vaccines, our perception of risk and how vaccination programmes are going to be monitored in the future. Beate answers burning audience questions including, “Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for pregnant women?”. You can find the LSHTM vaccine tracker here: https://vac-lshtm.shinyapps.io/ncov_vaccine_landscape/
38 min
The explosive COVID-19 outbreak in India has shone a striking light on one of the biggest moral issues of our time - vaccine equity. Subsequent halting of vaccine exports is severely affecting Africa and developing countries, and although 1.9 billion doses have been administered globally, many developing countries are yet to receive a single dose. In this episode we are joined by two global health leaders, Professor Peter Piot and Dr. Ayoade Alakija, who discuss vaccine nationalism, COVID-19 in Africa, and possible routes to improving health equity in the future.
28 min
How do countries get access to COVID-19 vaccines in the first place? In this episode, Prof Daniel Bausch of LSHTM shares his thoughts on the global vaccine purchasing and distribution systems. An expert in the control of emerging viruses, Dan also discusses with host Naomi Stewart what the focus on COVID-19 means for other vaccination programmes and trials, how the pandemic may end, and how prepared we will be for future epidemics and pandemics. If you would like to get in contact with the team, or if you have a question you would like to ask our experts, you can email us: comms@lshtm.ac.uk .
16 min
This week, Karl Byrne talks about the latest vaccination figures as well as other breaking COVID-19 news, including an exciting citizen science project where over the last year gamers playing EVE Online- a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, have carried out real world research that would have taken scientists over 330 years to complete. In our main feature, Karl tells the incredible story of how the Pfizer-BioNTech is manufactured. The journey begins with a small, frozen tube of viral DNA in a facility in America's Midwest, involves travelling across states, and even continents, ending almost 2 months later with millions of doses of vaccine ready to be shipped to vaccination centres across the USA, Europe and beyond. If you would like to get in contact with the team, or if you have a question you would like to ask our experts, you can email us: comms@lshtm.ac.uk Background music for the main feature is from MaxKoMusic
22 min
Who are the experts and groups around the world approving and regulating the new COVID-19 vaccines? And what do they need to consider amidst the urgency of vaccinating the world? In this episode ahead of World Immunization Week, Naomi Stewart speaks to Prof Annelies Wilder-Smith from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Prof Smith sits on WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, and walks us through the decisions involved in approving different vaccines - and how it could happen so quickly. If you would like to get in contact with the team, or if you have a question you would like to ask our experts, you can email us: comms@lshtm.ac.uk
19 min
In this episode we explore the crucial stages of clinical trials and testing vaccines. How do clinical trials account for different demographics? How do we know vaccines are safe for everyone? We are joined by Dr Ed Parker, Research Fellow at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and member of the Vaccine Centre. Ed walks us through the purpose of a clinical trial and its roots in ancient history, and provides insight behind LSHTM’s vaccine tracker. Link to LSHTM short course on clinical trials: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/courses/short-courses/clinical-trials
31 min
Vaccines have arguably made the greatest contribution to global health of any human intervention apart from the introduction of clean water and sanitation. With new vaccines being developed at an incredible rate to tackle the current pandemic, we take a look at how vaccines work and what goes into each shot. Karl is joined by Helen Fletcher, Professor of Immunology at LSHTM, to take a look at what goes into a vaccine, how you design one and how the COVID-19 vaccines were created so quickly and safely. They also dispel some of the myths floating around about vaccines. Professor Beate Kampmann, Director of the Vaccine Centre at LSHTM, also stops by to answer some questions sent in by you, our listeners. You can find the video on vaccine safety that Karl and Beate talk about here . Learn more about the Vaccine Centre here . If you would like to get in contact with the team, or if you have a question you would like to ask our experts, you can email us: comms@lshtm.ac.uk
33 min
How did vaccines come to be and how have they changed over time? In today's episode, Naomi Stewart speaks to historian Dr Gareth Millward from the University of Warwick, on the history of vaccines and how vaccination programmes have evolved in the 20th century. Professor Liam Smeeth from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine then walks us through the vaccine landscape at the turn of the 21st century, and public perceptions and attitudes towards vaccination in a COVID-19 world.
23 min
Welcome back to a new season of LSHTM Viral, where we will be taking a deep-dive into vaccines and speak to experts working real-time on COVID-19. LSHTM modeller Roz Eggo reacts to the UK’s roadmap announcement on 22 February for easing lockdown restrictions, explaining the science behind the government's decision and how vaccination will forge a way out of the pandemic. John Edmunds, a UK government science advisor and professor of infectious disease at LSHTM discussed how new, potentially dangerous variants of the virus can emerge and key considerations for vaccination at this scale.
1 min
Launching February 23rd 2021 Vaccines are widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements of modern civilization, but how vaccines work, How do you create a vaccine? And perhaps most importantly, how do you produce enough to vaccinate the entire world? Join Karl Byrne , Amy Thomas and Naomi Stewart every fortnight as they explore the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic and take a deep dive into vaccines and vaccinations. They will be talking about the latest pandemic news, answering your vaccine questions and speaking to experts from LSHTM and beyond, as they explore the past, present and future of vaccines. Find out more on our LSHTM podcast website.
25 min
How exactly did planetary health come to be, and where is it headed? In this season finale, we speak to two pioneers of the field - Prof Andy Haines of LSHTM and Richard Horton, editor of the Lancet. They discuss the urgency of embedding planetary health into the policy agenda, the benefits of increased public engagement with science during COVID-19, and how to address the inequalities that could hamper our efforts.
31 min
Welcome to a special episode of LSHTM Viral! The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with mass national roll out following as early as the next couple of weeks. Karl is joined in this episode by Dr Pauline Paterson, Dr Sadie Bell, and Prof Liam Smeeth of LSHTM, as they take a look at the factors that affect people's confidence and hesitance around vaccines, how the recent news might affect peoples perceptions of vaccines, and discuss some of the logistical and communication challenges that the UK faces in vaccinating the population. If you would like to get in touch with your questions and comments, we'd love to hear from you! You can email us: comms@lshtm.ac.uk