INFECTIOUS DOSE
STORIES FROM THE HIDDEN WORLD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Evidence-based science, unexpected history, emerging outbreaks, and immersive stories that take you inside that hidden world.
From microbes and outbreaks to vaccines, medicine, history, and public health, each episode follows the evidence wherever it leads—into laboratories and archives, through past epidemics, and into the outbreaks and questions shaping public health today.
LATEST FROM INFECTIOUS DOSE
Each episode has a companion blog post with the full transcript and annotated citations.
In September we’ll bust some of the infection myths parents hear most often, investigate the strange emergence of Candida auris (now called Candidozyma auris), take a closer look at how we think about catastrophic biological risk, and follow Salmonella from chickens and turtles to the foods in our kitchens. And we'll end the month with an Outbreak After Dark movie night to explore how infectious diseases inspire the big screen.
EXPLORE THE ARCHIVE
More than a chronological episode list, the Infectious Dose archive is organized into recurring series, themed collections, and the complete catalog.
Every story, cataloged from the beginning.
SERIES
Recurring formats within Infectious Dose, each with its own focus, style, and rhythm.
What’s happening, why it matters, and what to watch next.
The irreverent side of infectious disease—best served with a drink.
COLLECTIONS
Curated groups of episodes that explore one subject or theme from different angles.
The evidence behind vaccine safety — examined, explained, and documented.
An October storytelling experiment with the lights turned down and the rules undone.
WHAT LISTENERS ARE SAYING
Judy Minkoff, PhD
A fantastic explainer on measles by The Infectious Dose. I can't recommend this one loudly enough. Take a listen!
Mike D., Detroit
I'm a layperson, not a scientist and definitely not a virus or vaccine expert. I felt substantially more informed about the vaccines after listening to this information.
Patrick Passarelli, MD
This was great! Thanks for answering my question in such detail. Also, the RFKjr debunk session was tops!
THE VIROLOGIST BEHIND INFECTIOUS DOSE
Heather McSharry, PhD, is a virologist-turned-science writer who believes infectious disease science should be rigorous without being inaccessible. Drawing on a background in infectious disease research and years of science communication, she created Infectious Dose to tell the stories behind the science—from deep dives into outbreaks and discoveries to immersive histories and experimental storytelling. Her goal is simple: make complicated science clear, compelling, and worth getting curious about.