Infectious Questions is a public health podcast produced by the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases. This Q+A podcast series supports knowledge translation on current issues in infectious disease public health, looking at topics such as emerging diseases, structural determinants, and unconventional public health sites. Listener submissions and feedback will drive podcast topics.
Please contact NCCID Communications Coordinator Chris Davis to submit questions or suggestions for future episodes.
Listen below or on any of the following streaming services:
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Episode 31
Thursday, November 4, 2021 — On the 31st episode of our series, we speak with Richard Budgell, Professor of Practice of Inuit and Northern Health Promotion in the Department of Family Medicine at McGill University.
Richard discusses the social-historical context of COVID-19 and how histories can reveal significant gaps in pandemic responses to inform future policies and practices for Inuit communities.
Episode 30
Monday, November 1, 2021 — On the 30th episode of our series, we continue our conversation with Elene Lam of Butterfly – Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network.
Elene is joined by Alice Cavanagh of Health Providers Against Poverty. Through advocacy, education, and patient care, HPAP is working to eliminate poverty and reduce health inequities in Canada. The network has provincial chapters in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Laborador.
Episode 29
Wednesday, September 29, 2021 — On the 29th episode of our series, we spoke to Elene Lam, Executive Director of Butterfly – Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network.
Formed by sex workers, social workers, legal and health professionals, Butterfly provides support to, and advocates for, the rights of Asian and migrant sex workers.
Find resources from episode 29 below:
Legal information for services providers on how to support migrant sex workers
Support justice of migrant sex workers
Stop racist attacks against Asian massage workers and sex workers
Episode 28
Monday, August 16, 2021 — This episode discusses some of the intensified structural determinants that are playing a role in how the pandemic affects South Asian communities in Canada. We spoke with Dr. Ananya Tina Banerjee, Assistant Professor at the School of Population and Global Health, in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at the University of Toronto. She is also the founder of the South Asian Health Research Hub.
Episode 27
Wednesday, July 21, 2021 — On the 27th episode of our series, we spoke with Dr. Myles Leslie, who leads a team of researchers at the School of Public Policy in the University of Calgary. They have developed the “Vaccine Hesitancy Guide” to support better clinical conversations about vaccines. It helps identify the sources of primary care practitioners’ patients’ hesitancies and offers advice and resources on how to address them.
Episode 26
Tuesday, July 6, 2021 — On the 26th episode of our series, we discuss syndemics of concern involving STBBIs, substance use and living conditions intensified by COVID-19. We spoke with Dr. Yoav Keynan, scientific director of the NCCID and associate professor in the department of internal medicine, medical microbiology, and community health sciences at the University of Manitoba.
Episode 25
Thursday, June 24, 2021 — In this episode, Dr. Allen Kraut speaks about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected healthcare workers in Manitoba (and across Canada). We address current infectivity rates in various healthcare settings, worker vaccine hesitancy and approaches to increase worker vaccination.
Episode 24
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 — In episode 24th of our series, we continue our discussion on the health care and vaccination of migrant workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. NCCID’s Susie Taylor spoke with Mr. Eduardo Huesca, an Outreach Worker and Program Coordinator with Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers.
Episode 23
Thursday, May 13, 2021 — In episode 23 of our series, we will be discussing health care and vaccination of migrant workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the beginning of the agricultural season approaches. NCCID’s Susie Taylor spoke with Mr. Eduardo Huesca, an Outreach Worker and Program Coordinator with Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers.
Episode 22
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 — For our 22nd episode, and nearly one year later, we return to our discussion on the health and well-being of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. NCCID’s Aleksandra Wierzbowski speaks with Dr. Jared Bullard, an infectious disease specialist and Associate Medical Director at the Cadham Provincial Lab in Winnipeg Manitoba, about current pediatric considerations for COVID-19 including epidemiology, presenting symptoms and demographic data.
Find resources from episode 22 below:
On the Effect of Age on the Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Households, Schools, and the Community
Household SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Children: A Network Prospective Study
Infectivity of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Children Compared With Adults
Episode 21
Thursday, January 28, 2021 — In this episode, we explore the usefulness of waste water surveillance as an early detection method for SARS-CoV-2 in the community with Dr. Steve E. Hrudey, Professor Emeritus of the Analytical & Environmental Toxicology Division at the University of Alberta.
Interested in other waste water surveillance resources, check out the following:
Looking for COVID-19 clues in our sewers
Episode 20
Thursday, January 7, 2021 — In this continuation of our last episode, Sume Ndumbe-Eyoh, Senior Knowledge Translation Specialist at the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH), continues the discussion on racism during the COVID-19 pandemic including the social, cultural, economic and political impacts on different communities.
Episode 19
Thursday, January 7, 2021 — In this episode, Sume Ndumbe-Eyoh, Senior Knowledge Translation Specialist at the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH), shares data on racism during the COVID-19 pandemic including the social, cultural, economic and political impacts on different communities.
Episode 18
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 — In this episode, Angela Eykelbosh, Environmental Health and Knowledge Translation Scientist at the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH), shares their information and evidence for preventing COVID-19 transmission in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs).
Episode 17
Monday, September 14, 2020 — On this episode, Stephanie Mayell, of the Migrant Worker Health Expert Working Group (MWHEWG), discusses the burden of COVID-19 among migrant agricultural workers in Canada, barriers to prevention, and opportunities for public health intervention.
Episode 16
Tuesday, July 21, 2020 — In this podcast, Dr. Erin Knight, medical director of Addiction Services with Shared Health and the medical co-lead of the Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM), discusses changes and trends in substance use during COVID-19 and how public health and addiction service teams are responding together to meet the needs of communities.
Episode 15
Monday, July 6, 2020 — On this episode, the 15th of our series, we’ve partnered with the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health to discuss the evacuations of Northern Indigenous communities in Canada, and the public health considerations of COVID-19 in these tragic events. NCCIH’s Roberta Stout spoke with Dr. Emily Dicken, the Director of Emergency Management at the First Nations Health Authority.
Episode 14
Monday, June 22, 2020 — In this episode of our series on COVID-19, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on public health programming for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). We speak with Jennifer Gratrix, interim director of the STBBI program for Alberta Health Services.
Episode 13
Tuesday, June 16, 2020 — For our 13th episode, we circle back to continue our discussion on the health and well-being of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. NCCID’s Margaret Haworth-Brockman speaks with Dr. Joanne Langley, a pediatric infectious disease clinician in Halifax at IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie University, about current pediatric considerations for COVID-19 including epidemiology, presenting symptoms and demographic data.
Episode 12
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 — In this episode, NCCID’s Aleksandra Wierzbowski speaks with Dr. Graham Tipples, Medical-Scientific Director at Alberta’s Public Health Lab, about current and upcoming serological tactics for COVID-19. Dr. Tipples explains what healthcare professionals need to know about serology testing right now, limitations of the test, length of immunity to COVID-19 and who should be the priority for serological testing.
Episode 11
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 — For our 11th episode, we discuss the health and well-being of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. NCCID’s Margaret Haworth-Brockman speaks with Dr. Joanne Langley, a pediatric infectious disease clinician in Halifax at IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie University, about current pediatric considerations for COVID-19.
Interested in other pediatric-focused resources, check out the following:
How to help your kids with COVID from your friendly neighbourhood Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Episode 10
Monday, April 20, 2020 — In our 10th episode, we shed light on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) resources for COVID-19 from IPAC Canada. Jennifer Happe, an Infection Prevention and Control Professional and a Director on the Board of IPAC Canada acknowledges current challenges for frontline personnel and reminds our listeners of foundational IPC skills and opportunities to learn more.
Visit IPAC Canada’s COVID-19 resource page for helpful resources, including educational webinars, IPC guidelines, seminal scientific publications, guidance on conserving PPE, and training materials suitable for a range of healthcare and allied personnel.
Episode 9
Wednesday, April 8, 2020 — In February, Dr. Jared Bullard, an infectious disease specialist and Associate Medical Director at the Cadham Provincial Lab in Winnipeg Manitoba, spoke with us about Canada’s initial laboratory response to 2019-nCoV and COVID-19. In this episode, Dr. Bullard returns to provide an update on testing and diagnosis for COVID-19 and Canada’s ongoing laboratory response.
Episode 8
Monday, April 6, 2020 — On this episode of our series on COVID-19, we discuss livestock, farming and One Health considerations for COVID-19. We speak with Dr. Simon Otto, a veterinarian, epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Alberta School of Public Health.
Episode 7
Monday, March 30, 2020 — In the 7th episode of our series on COVID-19, we discuss public health roles, measures and considerations for northern and remote communities in Canada. We speak with Dr. Michael Isaac, Medical Officer of Health in the Northern Health Region of Manitoba.
Episode 6
Monday, March 23, 2020 — Continuing our series on COVID-19, we speak to Dr. David Strang, a geriatrician and co-founding member of the Long Term Care Medical Directors Association of Canada, on how Long Term Care homes, as well as supportive residences for seniors in communities, are preparing.
Episode 5
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 — In partnership with the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, our 5th episode in the COVID-19 series focuses on pandemic preparedness in First Nations communities. We speak with Marlene Larocque, Senior Policy Advisor at the Assembly of First Nations, and Dr. Myrle Ballard, Researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba.
Additional Resources from NCCIH
Indigenous Services Canada’s preparedness and response to COVID-19
Episode 4
Thursday, February 21, 2020 — In the fourth episode of this series, we delve into the issues of stigma and discrimination as they relate to 2019-nCoV, and how public health can respond. We talk with Pemma Muzumdar, a Knowledge Translation Specialist at the National Collaborating Centre for the Determinants of Health.
Additional Resources from NCCDH
Lets’s Talk: Racism and health equity (English/French)
Key public health resources for anti-racism action: A curated list (English/French)
Episode 3
Thursday, February 13, 2020 — In this episode, we focus on effective public health engagement with nurses in Canada about 2019-nCoV. We speak with Dr. Claire Betker, President of the Canadian Nurses Association and the Scientific Director for the National Collaborating Centre for the Determinants of Health.
Episode 2
Friday, February 7, 2020 — In this episode, we continue our look at the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, specifically on infection prevention and control in Canadian healthcare settings. We chat with Dr. John Embil, an infectious disease consultant at the University of Manitoba and Medical Director for the Infection Prevention and Control program at the Health Sciences Centre hospital and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
Episode 1
Thursday, February 6, 2020 — In the first episode of the series, we pose questions on Novel Coronavirus testing and diagnosis and Canada’s laboratory response to Dr. Jared Bullard, an infectious disease specialist and Associate Medical Director at the Cadham Provincial Lab in Winnipeg Manitoba.