Topic: Cholera Vaccine

The company PaxVax reportedly applied for permission in Australia to utilize aerial spraying for a modified live bacterial vaccine against cholera. The discussion compares this to previous West Nile virus spraying efforts in New York. Concerns are raised regarding the safety of dispersing attenuated viruses over populated areas via crop dusters.

The United Nations is launching a mass drug administration campaign in Haiti to combat elephantiasis, a parasitic infection that causes extreme swelling of limbs and the scrotum. Adam Curry criticizes the international community's treatment of Haitians, whom he describes as "human pain cushions" for experimental vaccines and UN policies. He notes that despite high-profile fundraising by figures like George Clooney, many Haitians still live in tents and suffer from cholera.

A controversy emerges in Haiti regarding a mass cholera vaccination program. While critics argue for clean water and sanitation, the World Health Organization has approved the vaccine, which some locals still fear is an experimental medical trial.

The summary covers the launch of a cholera vaccination campaign in Haiti using the drug Shanchol, developed with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The hosts link the outbreak to UN peacekeepers and question why a new, expensive vaccine is being used instead of traditional water and sanitation infrastructure. Additionally, a dental office poster promoting the HPV vaccine for oral cancer prevention is critiqued as a new marketing tactic.

Scientists suggest that global warming will lead to more cholera outbreaks, a claim the hosts view as opportunistic given the situation in Haiti. They discuss the high cost and pain associated with cholera vaccines. Adam Curry shares a personal anecdote about receiving multiple injections before traveling to Iraq, jokingly wondering if he was injected with nanoparticles.

The persistence of the H1N1 swine flu is questioned, as most seasonal flus typically dissipate after one year. In other medical news, a "vaccine" for cocaine addiction has been developed by combining a cocaine-like molecule with a cold virus to trigger an immune response. The hosts argue that the term "vaccine" is being incorrectly applied to drug addiction treatments to leverage the positive public perception of traditional vaccines.

The World Health Organization considers a global stockpile of cholera vaccines following the outbreak in Haiti, which was allegedly introduced by UN peacekeepers. The hosts discuss the high cost of the Swedish-made Dukoral vaccine compared to a cheaper Indian alternative. Additionally, they question the sincerity of Sarah Palin's recent visit to Haiti, labeling it a "celebrity stop-off."