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The Road to Zero

The Institute of Tropical Medicine launches new season of science podcast ‘Transmission’
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We are happy to announce the launch of season three of our multi-award-winning podcast 'Transmission' on 3 April. Across four captivating episodes, our researchers offer listeners a deep dive into the dynamics of vector-borne diseases and outbreaks, which are amplified by climate change. Whether they carry parasites or viruses, these tiny insect vectors have a tremendous impact on global health, from Belgium to the Peruvian Amazon, showing us that diseases – and health – know no borders.

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“Now in Italy this year [2024], we had the first outbreak of dengue. We already had outbreaks in France. They are at the moment, not very large, but we have the mosquito everywhere." says Ruth Müller, Head of ITM’s Unit of Entomology, which also houses our high security insectary.

Ruth is among the experts guiding listeners through the episodes. In season 3, listeners will follow our researchers and partners as they try to control and even eliminate the diseases that threaten the world, from the mysteries of sleeping sickness to the rising danger of dengue. The podcast takes listeners to cutting-edge insectaries and field labs in the most remote forests, as the journey spans from Burkina Faso to Nepal, and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Peruvian Amazon. Listeners will get a glimpse of what it means to control diseases when their vector is already present on all continents, of a young man’s determination that led to the groundbreaking new malaria vaccine, and of what it takes to keep alive and feed 3000 tsetse flies in a small insectary at the Institute if Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. We will learn why the last mile in disease elimination is always the most adventurous… and what bumps and turns await us on the long road to zero cases.

Tune in to ‘Transmission’ for a new episode every Thursday starting 3 April, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and the ITM website.

Transmission, a multi-award-winning podcast

In 2024, Transmission has won the Belgian Podcast Award in the 'Science & Tech' category, and the Best of Content Award in the category of Best Podcast/Audio Series.

Accelerating disease elimination

The seasons of Transmission follow ITM's research ambitions, with the third season highlighting our work in accelerating disease elimination. We reduce the burden of neglected tropical diseases and eliminate them in specific areas or populations.

Hungry for more?

Revisit the gripping narratives from season one, focusing on outbreaks and emerging infectious diseases, and explore the ins and outs of public health systems in season two, and the ways to fortify them.

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