Wendy Zukerman (Host)

And for this, I spoke to infectious disease researcher Dr. Catherine Gibney at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia. And she said that all the hype that you read about measles being infectious...

And for this, I spoke to infectious disease researcher Dr. Catherine Gibney at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia. And she said that all the hype that you read about measles being infectious...

Another way to look at it is, do you remember the R0 number from COVID? It's basically the number that says if you are walking around infected with a disease, on average, how many other susceptible or unvaccinated people will you infect?

Another way to look at it is, do you remember the R0 number from COVID? It's basically the number that says if you are walking around infected with a disease, on average, how many other susceptible or unvaccinated people will you infect?

So, yeah, compared to a lot of other diseases out there, measles is pretty R-naughty. Here's how Maru thinks about it.

So, yeah, compared to a lot of other diseases out there, measles is pretty R-naughty. Here's how Maru thinks about it.

So why is measles on another scale? Why does it spread so easily? Well, researchers told me that one thing that's going on here is that you're actually very contagious in the days before you even know you have measles, like before you start getting obvious symptoms. But that's not all. Maru told me that this virus is also hardy as f**k. I mean, she didn't put it quite like that.

So why is measles on another scale? Why does it spread so easily? Well, researchers told me that one thing that's going on here is that you're actually very contagious in the days before you even know you have measles, like before you start getting obvious symptoms. But that's not all. Maru told me that this virus is also hardy as f**k. I mean, she didn't put it quite like that.

That is insane. That is up to two hours. On top of all of this, Catherine told me that you don't need to breathe in that many measles viral particles to actually end up sick, particularly when you compare it to something like COVID. This thing is seriously relentless. It's like the John Wick of viruses. You can't hide from it.

That is insane. That is up to two hours. On top of all of this, Catherine told me that you don't need to breathe in that many measles viral particles to actually end up sick, particularly when you compare it to something like COVID. This thing is seriously relentless. It's like the John Wick of viruses. You can't hide from it.

I read about this report from the 1991, what they called back then the Special Olympics, where there was an outbreak of measles and it was the athletes where the outbreak had happened and they tracked two spectators, got infected, and they were sitting in the upper decks 32 metres away.

I read about this report from the 1991, what they called back then the Special Olympics, where there was an outbreak of measles and it was the athletes where the outbreak had happened and they tracked two spectators, got infected, and they were sitting in the upper decks 32 metres away.

So, measles is looking like one tough opponent. But after the break, we fight back. Today's Ask Wendy Me Anything is brought to you by Amazon. Whether it's delivering medication to your door with Amazon Pharmacy or 24-7 virtual care with Amazon One Medical. Thanks to Amazon, healthcare just got less painful.

So, measles is looking like one tough opponent. But after the break, we fight back. Today's Ask Wendy Me Anything is brought to you by Amazon. Whether it's delivering medication to your door with Amazon Pharmacy or 24-7 virtual care with Amazon One Medical. Thanks to Amazon, healthcare just got less painful.

So I'm here with senior producer Rose Rimler, who has some questions for me from you guys, from our listeners.

So I'm here with senior producer Rose Rimler, who has some questions for me from you guys, from our listeners.

A lot of them are a little bit... Not safe for branded advertising, I think. But maybe one of the most awkward was when we were at the human composting facility and we were looking at this big tub of human compost and I really wanted to put my hands in it and I said, can I please touch that? Can I touch it?

A lot of them are a little bit... Not safe for branded advertising, I think. But maybe one of the most awkward was when we were at the human composting facility and we were looking at this big tub of human compost and I really wanted to put my hands in it and I said, can I please touch that? Can I touch it?

Interesting. Okay, I really like this question, Steve. Thank you for asking it because I feel like... We get actually a lot of people sort of asking us this in this world where science has become so politicised. I think sometimes we get accused, if that's the right word, of being politicised ourselves or only delivering kind of woke science, if you want.

Interesting. Okay, I really like this question, Steve. Thank you for asking it because I feel like... We get actually a lot of people sort of asking us this in this world where science has become so politicised. I think sometimes we get accused, if that's the right word, of being politicised ourselves or only delivering kind of woke science, if you want.