Prompt Cast
The Flu: A Scarier Pandemic Threat Than Ebola
TLDR Dr. Anthony Fauci warns that the flu is a more likely disease to turn into a pandemic than Ebola, due to its ease of transmission and the presence of a deadly strain called H7N9. The flu pandemic has already caused over 35 million deaths worldwide, highlighting the need for better vaccines to prevent future outbreaks.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, states that influenza is the most likely disease to turn into a pandemic.
04:04
The flu is scarier than Ebola because it is much easier to transmit from person to person, and there is a dangerous strain of the flu called H7N9 that is killing about 40% of those infected.
08:24
The H7N9 flu virus is highly contagious and deadly, with a mortality rate of 2%, similar to the Spanish flu pandemic that killed 50 million people.
12:37
The flu virus is causing a cytokine storm in some patients, leading to their immune system attacking their own body, and despite the border closure, the flu is still present and likely to come back in the next few months.
17:02
Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, running out of ventilators and medication, and healthcare workers are becoming short-staffed.
21:50
The host's neighbor, John, who is an epidemiologist, has been found dead after not being heard from for a week.
27:07
The flu pandemic has resulted in over 35 million deaths worldwide, and while the scenario depicted in the podcast is more likely than a super deadly and super contagious flu virus, it is still a realistic possibility, and closing borders is not recommended as it can worsen the situation by preventing help and supplies from coming in.
31:48
We need better vaccines, including a universal flu vaccine, to prevent future pandemics, as history tells us that another pandemic is almost certain to occur.
36:19
The next episode will be on vaping and the dangers of e-cigarettes.
