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Osterholm Update

Episode 206: What we know about long COVID

Osterholm Update

CIDRAP

Science

4.8 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 9 April 2026

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

<p dir="ltr">This week Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall focus on long COVID, tackling some listener questions and providing context about what long COVID is, its potential risks, as well as some of the latest research and reports about it. Dr. Osterholm also discusses the CDC's pause on testing for rabies and pox viruses, plus a respiratory update and the latest on US measles outbreaks. Dr. Osterholm also honors National Health Week in the public health history segment.<br><br><br><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/antidepressant-relieves-fatigue-people-long-covid-study-finds">Antidepressant relieves fatigues in people with long COVID, study finds</a> (CIDRAP)</p> <p><a href="https://recovercovid.org/">The RECOVER Initiative</a> (NIH)</p> <p><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/end-sight-south-carolina-s-measles-outbreak-chicago-alert-after-potential-airport-exposure">End in sight for South Carolina’s measles outbreak; Chicago on alert after potential airport exposure</a> (CIDRAP)<br>&nbsp;</p> <p>Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy:</p> <p><a href="https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/get-involved/"><strong>Voices for Vaccines</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://familiesfightingflu.org/take-action/"><strong>Families Fighting Flu</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/get-involved/"><strong>Vaccinate Your Family</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://shotatlife.org/take-action/"><strong>Shot@Life</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://aspr.hhs.gov/MRC/Pages/index.aspx"><strong>Medical Reserve Corps</strong></a></p> <p>Learn more about the <a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/vaccine-integrity-project"><strong>Vaccine Integrity Project</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/osterholm-update-covid-19"><strong>MORE EPISODES</strong></a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/support-cidrap"><strong>SUPPORT THIS PODCAST</strong></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Music:</strong></p> <p>"Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)<br>Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</p>

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello and welcome to the Ostrome Update, a podcast about infectious diseases and public health featuring Dr. Michael Osterholm.

0:16.7

Dr. Ostrome is an internationally recognized medical detective and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, or Sidrap, at the University of Minnesota.

0:26.8

In this podcast, Dr. Osterome draws an over 50 years of experience in infectious disease epidemiology to provide straight talk on the latest infectious disease outbreaks,

0:40.6

counter misinformation and disinformation about vaccines,

0:46.0

and distill the complex and ever-evolving public health threats facing our world.

0:49.5

I'm Chris Dahl, reporter for Sidrapp News, and I'm your host for these conversations.

1:03.9

Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of the Oostrom Update podcast.

1:08.4

We've gotten a lot of questions recently about long COVID from our listeners. And we've heard from people who have personally experienced

1:11.5

lingering post-COVID symptoms or know somebody who has. According to the definition of the

1:17.1

World Health Organization, long COVID refers to a range of symptoms that persist for at least two

1:22.4

months after an initial COVID-19 infection, affecting physical, cognitive, and mental health. But for many

1:29.6

people suffering from long COVID, the symptoms have lasted far longer than two months, with

1:34.8

significant impacts on daily function and overall quality of life. Here's what one person with

1:40.6

long COVID recently told Sid Rapp News reporter Liz Zabo. I have two master's degrees

1:45.7

for teaching and administration, and I can't do either one. Today, we're going to try our best to

1:51.8

answer a few of the listener questions we received and provide some context about what Long COVID is,

1:57.5

its potential risks, and some of the latest research and reports about it. So long COVID

2:02.6

will be our focus for this April 9th episode of the Oostrom Update, episode number 206.

2:08.6

We'll also discuss the CDC's pause on testing for rabies and pox viruses, provide a respiratory

2:14.1

update on COVID, flu, and RSV activity, and bring you the latest on

2:18.5

U.S. measles outbreaks. And of course, we'll have this week in public health history. But before

2:24.4

we get started, as always, we will begin with Dr. Ostrome's opening comments and dedication.

...

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