Winter Flu Alert: H3N2, Early Spikes, and the Universal Vaccine Quest

If your morning commute sounds coughier than usual, you aren't imagining things.Reports confirm that the UK flu season has kicked off weeks ahead of schedule. With COVID-19 and RSV also circulating, are we facing a "tripledemic"? And why does the flu virus shape-shift enough to require a new vaccine every single autumn?In this episode, host Karl Byrne sits down with Professor Punam Mangtani, a leading epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), to decode the data behind this year's outbreak.They explain the difference between the H1N1 and H3N2 strains, why the UK looks to Australia for warning signs, and the biological "typo" that causes the virus to drift away from our immune system's memory. Plus, we look at how mRNA vaccine technology can help us tackle flu pandemics faster, and ask: Are we getting closer to a "universal" vaccine?In this episode, we cover:01:45 – The Early Surge: Why school data signals a difficult winter ahead.02:4 8 – The Australia Warning: What the Southern Hemisphere tells us about case numbers vs. severity.03:50 – H3N2 vs. H1N1: Decoding the alphabet soup of viral strains.05:13 – The Tripledemic: How Flu, RSV, and COVID-19 interact (and why you probably won't catch them all at once).07:10 – Antigenic Drift: The molecular reason why last year's vaccine won't protect you this year.08:35 – The Prediction Game: How the WHO selects vaccine strains months in advance.10:37 – 60% effectiveness?: How effective must a vaccine be in order to be thought of as good?12:55 – The Holy Grail: The latest research on Universal Flu Vaccines.14:23 – Prevention: Why surface cleaning works better for Flu than it did for COVID.Guest:Professor Punam Mangtani – Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at LSHTM and expert in respiratory viruses, vaccine effectiveness, and public health surveillance.Learn more:LSHTM Vaccine CentreExpert Comment: Why the UK is expecting a bad flu seasonCredits:Host: Karl ByrneProducer: Karl ByrneEditor: Karl ByrneFollow us on social media:Twitter: @LSHTMInstagram: @LSHTM#LSHTM #GlobalHealth #Flu #H3N2 #PublicHealth #Vaccines #Epidemiology #Tripledemic

 Why do we fall for false or misleading information about our health? And in a world flooded with viral claims and conspiracy theories, how can we fight back? On September 15th 2025, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine brought together world-leading experts to tackle one of the most urgent threats to public health: misinformation. In this special episode, host Karl Byrne takes you inside the event to unpack the key takeaways. You'll hear from behavioural scientists on the psychology of "pre-bunking" and why our emotions make us vulnerable; journalists on the practical challenges of verifying news in a 24/7 cycle; and global health experts on how the fight looks different from West Africa to the UK. Featuring insights from Professor Sir Chris Whitty (Chief Medical Officer for England), Professor Sander van der Linden (University of Cambridge), LSHTM researchers, experts from BBC Media Action, PA Media, and international organisations. This episode explores the timeless techniques behind the misinformation machine, how we can effectively fight it and asks what it will take to rebuild trust. This isn't just a discussion about fake news- it's about finding clarity in the chaos.Find out more about the network to fight health misinformation in the UK and how you can help.

This summer, chikungunya has been making headlines — with more than 7,000 cases reported in China’s Guangdong province and tens of thousands more across the Indian Ocean islands. Even parts of Europe, including France and Italy, have seen local transmission. But what exactly is chikungunya? How does it spread, what symptoms does it cause, and could it become a risk in cooler countries like the UK?Host Karl Byrne is joined by Dr Doris Kemunto Nyamwaya from The MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit to unpack what we know about chikungunya, why public health experts are watching it so closely, and whether vaccines might change the picture.Click here to find out more about LSHTM's courses, including the MSc Epidemiology mentioned in the episode

Cases of measles are on the rise globally, including in Europe, Central Asia, and North America. In the UK, cases are the highest they've been in 25 years. But why?Join hosts Naomi Stewart and Karl Byrne in this bonus episode of LSHTM Viral as they speak to Professor Liam Smeeth, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine about the very real consequences of the highly contagious disease and the damage of false claims about the MMR vaccine dating back to the 90s. We also speak to Professor Heidi Larson, Director of The Vaccine Confidence Project about the rates of trust in vaccines globally and how to engage with empathy to tackle falling vaccination coverage.To find out more about studying immunology and infectious diseases at LSHTM, visit our website.Bluesky: ⁠@LSHTM⁠Instagram: ⁠@LSHTM⁠Facebook: ⁠@LSHTM⁠LinkedIn: ⁠@LSHTM

Ever had a sudden, gut-wrenching bout of vomiting and diarrhoea? You’re not alone—norovirus, the infamous ‘winter vomiting bug,’ has been wreaking havoc across the UK. But why are cases so high this year? And how can you protect yourself?In this special episode, Karl speaks to LSHTM expert Dr Damien Tully to break down the science behind norovirus, how it spreads, and why cruise ships are often the perfect storm for outbreaks. We also discuss the latest infection figures, the strain on the NHS, and practical ways to avoid infection.Ranked 4th globally for infectious diseases in 2024, LSHTM provides a renowned learning environment with research-led teaching. For more information about LSHTM's programmes in infectious diseases and how to apply, please visit:  https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/courses/infectious-and-tropical-diseases-programmes

In this bonus episode of LSHTM Viral, we explore human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus recently making headlines due to an outbreak in China and rising cases in the UK. But is this something we should be worried about? Host Karl Byrne is joined by Professor Martin Hibberd, an expert in emerging infectious diseases at LSHTM, to break down what HMPV is, how it compares to other respiratory viruses like flu and RSV, and why it’s unlikely to cause a pandemic. They discuss how to protect yourself from seasonal respiratory infections and what global health experts are watching for in future outbreaks. To find out more about Outbreak Analytics short course and others, visit our website. Bluesky: @LSHTMInstagram: @LSHTMFacebook: @LSHTMLinkedIn: @LSHTM

Join Amy and Karl as they reflect on the LSHTM Viral season 3. They discuss how far have we come with vaccinations worldwide and key takeaways from the expert discussions throughout the season. Thank you to all the experts who appeared on the podcast and the dedicated LSHTM Viral listeners that helped LSHTM Viral win a Gold CASE Award for Digital Communications (Frequent Podcast Category). Goodbye for now!

In this episode of LSHTM Viral, Karl Byrne speaks with Beate Kampmann, Professor of Paediatric Infection & Immunity and Director of the Vaccine Centre at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. They delve into the future of vaccines, our perception of risk and how vaccination programmes are going to be monitored in the future. Beate answers burning audience questions including, “Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for pregnant women?”. You can find the LSHTM vaccine tracker here: https://vac-lshtm.shinyapps.io/ncov_vaccine_landscape/

The explosive COVID-19 outbreak in India has shone a striking light on one of the biggest moral issues of our time - vaccine equity. Subsequent halting of vaccine exports is severely affecting Africa and developing countries, and although 1.9 billion doses have been administered globally, many developing countries are yet to receive a single dose. In this episode we are joined by two global health leaders, Professor Peter Piot and Dr. Ayoade Alakija, who discuss vaccine nationalism, COVID-19 in Africa, and possible routes to improving health equity in the future.

How do countries get access to COVID-19 vaccines in the first place? In this episode, Prof Daniel Bausch of LSHTM shares his thoughts on the global vaccine purchasing and distribution systems. An expert in the control of emerging viruses, Dan also discusses with host Naomi Stewart what the focus on COVID-19 means for other vaccination programmes and trials, how the pandemic may end, and how prepared we will be for future epidemics and pandemics. If you would like to get in contact with the team, or if you have a question you would like to ask our experts, you can email us: [email protected].