{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/e421d786-ec36-4148-aa99-7a3b2928a779/6a0df3f5a9d3d2ec1457cbfb?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"A tale of two outbreaks","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62e286a934d4d9fe5e874247/1779299234254-e8cf7856-f76d-4a0a-a3bb-897f4978a93c.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>A rare disease <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/05/20/the-hantavirus-outbreak-has-produced-valuable-epidemiological-data?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">spreading</a> on a cruise ship triggered memories of covid-19. But while people <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/05/06/how-worried-should-you-be-about-hantavirus?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">worried about hantavirus</a> cases reaching their shores, a much larger <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/05/19/a-new-ebola-outbreak-could-be-the-worst-in-a-decade?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">outbreak of Ebola</a> took hold in central Africa. The two outbreaks have come in the wake of a series of worrying developments for international public health agencies: America has left the World Health Organisation and the country has also gutted its spending on international aid. How should pathogenic threats be handled in this post-aid era?&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Guests and hosts:</p><ul><li>Slavea Chankova, <em>The Economist</em>’s health-care correspondent</li><li>Nicole Tischler of Fundación Ciencia &amp; Vida, Chile</li><li>Tom Geisbert of the University of Texas Medical Branch</li><li>Host: Alok Jha, <em>The Economist</em>’s science and technology editor&nbsp;</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered:</p><ul><li>Andes hantavirus</li><li>Bundibugyo Ebolavirus</li><li>Pandemic preparedness</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Transcripts of our podcasts are available via </em><a href=\"http://economist.com/podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>economist.com/podcasts</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href=\"https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href=\"https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>our video </em></a><em>explaining how to link your account.</em></p>","author_name":"The Economist"}