Infectious Disease

While swine flu is sweeping around the world, infectious diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, rabies, and seasonal flu are annual challenges to our public health here in Massachusetts. Whooping cough and measles are also making comebacks, and public health officials here and across the globe are keeping their eyes on bird flu, AIDS, drug-resistant TB, new strains of viruses, and ‘superbugs.’

The June edition of the Massachusetts Medical Society’s Physician Focus takes a close look at the topic of infectious disease, how serious are the threats, what public health officials and infectious disease specialists recommend, and what the best courses of action are that individuals can take to protect themselves and their families. This program was taped prior to the outbreak of swine flu, yet provides an in-depth assessment of the diseases most common to our area.

Infectious Disease features Alfred DeMaria Jr., M.D., Medical Director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Thomas Treadwell, M.D., Director of the Infectious Disease Clinic at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. Hosting this edition is Bruce Karlin, M.D., a primary care physician in Worcester, Mass.