Tanya Mosley

We recorded this conversation last week. Dr. Ratner, welcome to Fresh Air.

We recorded this conversation last week. Dr. Ratner, welcome to Fresh Air.

Well, your book is very relevant. President Trump has announced significant funding cuts for the NIH, the National Institutes of Health, which will have a direct impact on medical research. The anti-vax movement continues to grow. There is still this disbelief in science and research that we are seeing. And you have made it your life's work to study and treat infectious diseases.

Well, your book is very relevant. President Trump has announced significant funding cuts for the NIH, the National Institutes of Health, which will have a direct impact on medical research. The anti-vax movement continues to grow. There is still this disbelief in science and research that we are seeing. And you have made it your life's work to study and treat infectious diseases.

Well, your book is very relevant. President Trump has announced significant funding cuts for the NIH, the National Institutes of Health, which will have a direct impact on medical research. The anti-vax movement continues to grow. There is still this disbelief in science and research that we are seeing. And you have made it your life's work to study and treat infectious diseases.

Why did you want to tell the larger implications of what we're seeing through this story of measles?

Why did you want to tell the larger implications of what we're seeing through this story of measles?

Why did you want to tell the larger implications of what we're seeing through this story of measles?

Right. I talked about how confidence in medicine and public health may actually be at an all-time low, which is very interesting because the pandemic showed us how infectious disease spreads. We watched a vaccine be developed, and we also saw all of the inequities that a crisis like that revealed about who has access to medical care and vaccinations.

Right. I talked about how confidence in medicine and public health may actually be at an all-time low, which is very interesting because the pandemic showed us how infectious disease spreads. We watched a vaccine be developed, and we also saw all of the inequities that a crisis like that revealed about who has access to medical care and vaccinations.

Right. I talked about how confidence in medicine and public health may actually be at an all-time low, which is very interesting because the pandemic showed us how infectious disease spreads. We watched a vaccine be developed, and we also saw all of the inequities that a crisis like that revealed about who has access to medical care and vaccinations.

I assume this is also what keeps you up at night as you think about measles being an indicator.

I assume this is also what keeps you up at night as you think about measles being an indicator.

I assume this is also what keeps you up at night as you think about measles being an indicator.

Now that we're several years past that, what do you make of the growth in the movement? We now have Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now a voice that many American people listen to and feel hopeful that someone like this actually will be in a high office.

Now that we're several years past that, what do you make of the growth in the movement? We now have Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now a voice that many American people listen to and feel hopeful that someone like this actually will be in a high office.

Now that we're several years past that, what do you make of the growth in the movement? We now have Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now a voice that many American people listen to and feel hopeful that someone like this actually will be in a high office.

You're also saying it's why it's an important thing to look at children's health as we think about the health of larger society. And something really interesting is you describe all of those past communicable diseases, whooping cough, polio, all of those things that have been eradicated.

You're also saying it's why it's an important thing to look at children's health as we think about the health of larger society. And something really interesting is you describe all of those past communicable diseases, whooping cough, polio, all of those things that have been eradicated.

You're also saying it's why it's an important thing to look at children's health as we think about the health of larger society. And something really interesting is you describe all of those past communicable diseases, whooping cough, polio, all of those things that have been eradicated.