Whooping Cough Is Back & So Is Agro-Terrorism? | Inside Outbreaks

Whooping Cough Deaths and Fungus Smuggling: Are We Missing the Real Public Health Threats?

In this episode of Inside Outbreaks on Thermometer, Dr. Jay Varma and Dr. Jon Epstein confront two troubling headlines that cut to the core of public health: the return of deadly, vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S. and the arrest of two Chinese researchers accused of smuggling a dangerous fungus into the country.

Whooping Cough is Back — And It’s Killing Babies

Two infants in Kentucky have died from pertussis, also known as whooping cough — a disease we’ve long had vaccines to prevent. Why is it surging again? Dr. Varma and Dr. Epstein break down what pertussis is, why young children are especially vulnerable, and how waning vaccination rates — driven by misinformation and complacency — are creating space for its return.

This isn’t just a Kentucky problem. Outbreaks are being reported across the U.S., and the consequences are particularly severe for babies too young to be vaccinated. The episode explains how public health systems rely on herd immunity to protect the most vulnerable — and what happens when that breaks down.

Bioterrorism or Misunderstanding? Fungus Smuggling Sparks Arrests

The conversation takes a turn toward geopolitics with the news that two researchers from China were arrested at U.S. airports for bringing in a plant fungus that could devastate American crops. It raises big questions:

• Were these actions intentional?
• Are they being treated more harshly because they’re from China?
• How do we strike a balance between biosafety and open scientific exchange?

Dr. Varma shares personal stories from his time at CDC, including boarding a plane with specimens from a norovirus outbreak — and how biosafety regulations can sometimes clash with the urgent needs of disease surveillance. Dr. Epstein explains the strict policies around animal and plant pathogens, and why agencies like Homeland Security are now involved in monitoring biological imports.

What’s clear is this: whether it’s a virus killing children or a fungus threatening food security, public health challenges are growing more complex — and more entangled with politics, immigration, and international research.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode explores two very different outbreaks — one inside our borders, and one potentially crossing them. Both highlight the importance of proactive surveillance, global cooperation, and science-based policy. They also underscore the need to talk openly about threats to both human and agricultural health — not just after disasters strike, but before they do.

Whether you’re a parent, a scientist, or someone concerned about national security, this conversation offers insights you won’t want to miss.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmzhBYM7We8