Countermeasures

Emergent BioSolutions
  • 4.7 (15)
  • Science
  • Updated Biweekly

Throughout history, humanity has faced down disease and disaster. This season, Countermeasures traces the arc of public health crises and bioterrorism events across centuries, from the Black Death to the 2001 Anthrax attacks. We dig into how societies responded in the moment, what those responses reveal in hindsight, and what we still need to learn. Each episode uncovers the science and the human decisions behind our fight against health threats, and asks what it will take to be ready for the next one. Brought to you by Emergent, a leading public health company that delivers protective and life-saving solutions to communities around the world.

  1. 5d ago

    The Anthrax Attacks, 25 Years Later

    One week after 9/11, letters laced with anthrax spores began arriving at newsrooms and Senate offices across the country. By the time it was over, five people were dead, seventeen more were sickened, and the United States was confronting its first major act of bioterrorism in real time. This episode traces the anthrax attacks, from a mysterious diagnosis in Florida to the detective work that led investigators to Bruce Ivins, and asks what we can learn from the event 25 years later. Guests: Dr. Paul Keim:  Distinguished Professor, Geneticist and Microbiologist, whose lab provided critical DNA analysis to the FBI's investigationDr. Daniel R. Lucey:  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases; Chief of Infectious Disease Service at the largest hospital in Washington, D.C. during the attacksDr. Asha M. George:  Director, Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

  2. Aug 28

    The Third Wave of the Opioid Crisis

    For more than 20 years, we've been in the grip of one of the deadliest public health emergencies in history: the opioid crisis. It started in the 1990s, when opioid prescriptions rose sharply. From there, many people struggling with addiction turned to heroin, drawn by its lower cost and easier availability. Then, in 2013, the crisis shifted into a third wave, marked by a sharp rise in overdose deaths tied to synthetic opioids, especially illegally manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl analogs. This episode looks closely at that third wave, exploring the lasting toll it has taken on individuals, families and entire communities, and why, even now, the crisis is far from over. Guests: Dr. Bonnie Milas, Cardiac anesthesiologist, Intensivist, and Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaDavis Schneider, Professional Baseball Player  Davis Schneider is a paid spokesperson of Emergent

  3. Trailer

    Welcome to Season 4 of Countermeasures

    Throughout history, humanity has faced down disease and disaster. This season, Countermeasures traces the arc of public health crises and bioterrorism events across centuries, from the Black Death to the 2001 Anthrax attacks. We dig into how societies responded in the moment, what those responses reveal in hindsight, and what we still need to learn.

  4. 12/17/2025

    Impact of Climate Change on Health

    The effects of climate change touch communities around the world. In this episode, we look at how climate change is shaping public health today, and how it will continue to test our health systems in the years ahead, and what we can do to be prepared.  We hear how climate change has the potential to, and currently is, intensifying many of the health threats we have explored throughout this season.  Guests: Kristie L. Ebi, PhD, MPH, Professor, Global Health Professor, Env. and Occ. Health Sciences, University of Washington Department of Global HealthMelissa Furlong, Assistant Professor, Environmental Health Sciences, Arizona State University Zuckerman College of Public HealthEloise Todd, Executive Director and Founder of Resilience Action Network International (RANI)

  5. 12/10/2025

    Naloxone Access

    Since becoming available over the counter, Naloxone has saved countless lives. In this episode, we explore how expanded access is helping communities confront the opioid crisis, the real-world impact on individuals, and the work that still lies ahead. Experts point to broader availability as a key factor in recent declines in overdose deaths, but the crisis is far from over. Many rural and marginalized communities continue to face devastating losses. We look at how easier access to Naloxone is shaping outcomes, supporting harm-reduction efforts, and offering hope where it’s needed most. Guests:  Zac Clark, Founder and CEO of Release RecoveryOlivia Sugarman, PhD, MPH, Assistant Scientist at Johns Hopkins School of Public HealthAmy Mccormick, Activist and Co-Founder of Chance for Recovery

  6. 12/03/2025

    Zoonotic Diseases

    From bird flu to COVID-19, the threat of diseases jumping from animals to humans, zoonotic spillover, is a significant challenge to global health. We explore how scientists, health professionals, and communities are working to detect outbreaks before they spread, and what it will take to build a world prepared for the next pandemic. Featuring leading experts in infectious disease and health security, we dive into the systems keeping watch at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. Guests: Dr. Amesh Adalja, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health SecurityDr. Jennifer Nuzzo, Director, Pandemic Center at Brown UniversityDr. Lindsey Shields, Deputy Director, Epidemic Preparedness and Response Initiative, PATH

  7. Trailer

    We're taking a short break

    Thank you for listening to this season of Countermeasures so far. We will be back on December 3rd with more conversations with leading public health experts.

  8. 11/12/2025

    Biothreats

    Biological threats, whether natural, accidental, or deliberate, pose growing challenges for global security. In this episode, experts from the U.S. and Europe discuss how public–private partnerships, global cooperation, and sustained investment can strengthen biodefense and ensure the world is prepared before the next crisis begins. Guests: Christopher Frech, Senior Advisor of Global Government Affairs at Emergent BioSolutionsWolfgang Philipp, Principal Advisor and Chief Science Officer at the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)

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About

Throughout history, humanity has faced down disease and disaster. This season, Countermeasures traces the arc of public health crises and bioterrorism events across centuries, from the Black Death to the 2001 Anthrax attacks. We dig into how societies responded in the moment, what those responses reveal in hindsight, and what we still need to learn. Each episode uncovers the science and the human decisions behind our fight against health threats, and asks what it will take to be ready for the next one. Brought to you by Emergent, a leading public health company that delivers protective and life-saving solutions to communities around the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Emergent BioSolutions
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023
  • Show Website
    Countermeasures