Special Pathogens

Special Pathogens and the World Cup

In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan of Emory University Hospital sits down with Dr. Laura Evans to discuss how U.S. healthcare systems are preparing for the unique public health challenges surrounding the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. From heat-related illness and overcrowded emergency departments to infectious disease risks such as measles, influenza, COVID-19, novel influenzas, and endemic threats like Lassa fever, the conversation explores why preparedness for mass gatherings extends far beyond a single disease focus.

Dr. Evans emphasizes the importance of situational awareness tools, including CDC resources and Boston University’s Beacon platform, while reminding listeners that screening alone is never perfect. The episode highlights the continued importance of core infection prevention practices such as source control, masking when appropriate, hand hygiene, and obtaining detailed travel and exposure histories. Together, Jill Morgan and Dr. Laura Evans reinforce the principle of “identify, isolate, and inform,” discuss the value of understanding local and regional escalation pathways, and examine how World Cup planning can strengthen everyday healthcare preparedness nationwide.

Inside the NSPS: Dr. Laura Evans’ Vision for the National Special Pathogen System
In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, host Jill Morgan interviews Dr. Laura Evans, the new executive director of the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS), about her path from critical care leadership at Bellevue to national special pathogen preparedness. Dr. Evans recounts how the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and the 2014 Ebola outbreak shaped her focus on protecting healthcare workers while delivering high-quality care, and she describes Bellevue’s teamwork-driven responses, including Hurricane Sandy’s power crisis and evacuation supported by a fuel “bucket brigade.” She outlines NSPS’s goal of a tiered, trauma-like network built to be nimble and adaptable, discusses challenges such as sustaining hospital engagement, expanding Level 3 and 4 participation, and strengthening patient transport capacity, and frames upcoming mass gatherings like the World Cup as opportunities to advance preparedness nationwide.

NETEC Leadership Reflects: A Decade of Special Pathogen Preparedness in the US
In this episode, host Jill Morgan sits down with the principal investigators of NETEC—Dr. Aneesh Mehta, Dr. Vikramjit Mukherjee, and Dr. John Lowe—to reflect on a decade of advancing special pathogen preparedness across the U.S. healthcare system.

Together, they revisit the origins of NETEC, tracing back to the transformative events of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and share their unique journeys as infectious disease experts, critical care clinicians, and scientists on the front lines.

The conversation dives into the challenges and lessons learned while building a national network equipped for high-consequence infectious diseases, the evolution from isolated specialty units to a system-wide approach, and the critical importance of healthcare worker safety. You’ll hear insights on what it takes to maintain readiness in a landscape of ever-changing threats, the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, and a call to expand this “tight-knit club” of preparedness champions.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, public health advocate, or just curious about how the U.S. prepares for medical crises, this episode delivers an inspiring look at the past, present, and future of special pathogen response—and why it matters to us all.