Hello, you're about to listen to a BBC podcast, and I'm Ed Gamble, host of another BBC podcast,

The Traitors Uncloaked. But my show is available only on BBC Sounds, just like Ellis and John's

Saturday bonus episodes, the Pop Top Ten podcast with Scott Mills and Ryland, and comedy specials

from the likes of Harriet Kemsley, Susie Ruffel and Romm Ranganaethon. However, and maybe I'm biased,

it's really all about the traitors uncloked. So for a whole bunch of exclusive scoops and podcasts,

listen only on BBC Sounds. Hello there and welcome to the Inside Health podcast with me,

James Gallagher. How are you feeling? I don't know about you, but it seems like there's a

cough or a cold or COVID lurking around every corner.

They've even been trying their best to stop this pod.

I've got COVID the week before Christmas.

I'm recovering from a cold, but not COVID.

Sorry.

Say when you're good.

It's good, sorry, James.

Oh, but never fear. the Inside Health team and our guests have all managed to battle through their own viral onslaughts.

So we'll be exploring concerns about people buying antibiotics over the internet and whether the drug ketamine can be used to treat alcoholism.

I can feel my voice going again. Can you hear it?

But first, let's turn to what's happening with infections because it seems like there's an unusual abundance.

Then we've got some like strep A, which are striking outside of their normal season.

And don't forget COVID. Who could forget COVID? Because there's a new form to grapple with, as well as

implications of China, flipping from strict lockdowns to letting the virus spread. So with so much to digest,

who better to chat to than immunologist Professor Eleanor Riley from the University of Edinburgh.

...