S3E2: The growing threat

04/10/25 • 25 min

Imagine waking up one day feeling like your bones are breaking... Bone-break fever, or dengue, is a growing global threat fuelled by the climate crisis and urbanisation. In this episode, we uncover the creative, local and collective solutions needed to fight this disease, while the mosquitos that spread it are doing their best to outsmart us.

Have you encountered a tiger mosquito and are you in Belgium? Go to www.muggensurveillance.be and report your sighting!

For more information on Transmission, go to www.itg.be/podcast.

This episode features:

Ruth Müller, biologist and entomologist, Head of the Unit of Entomology (ITM)
Veerle Vanlerberghe, epidemiologist and education coordinator at Department of Public Health (ITM)
Jakke (Jan) Van Den Abbeele, parasitologist and insect molecular biologist, Head of the Unit of Trypanosoma (ITM)
Francesca Falconi, ITM alumna, microbiologist at Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Lima, Peru

Follow ITM and our work on:

To learn more about ITM's research on disease elimination, visit www.itg.be/en/research/disease-elimination

Strategy & Creation: Onlyhumans

Creation & Production: Sonhouse

Have you encountered a tiger mosquito and are you in Belgium? Go to www.muggensurveillance.be and report your sighting!

For more information on Transmission, go to www.itg.be/podcast.

This episode features:

Ruth Müller, biologist and entomologist, Head of the Unit of Entomology (ITM)
Veerle Vanlerberghe, epidemiologist and education coordinator at Department of Public Health (ITM)
Jakke (Jan) Van Den Abbeele, parasitologist and insect molecular biologist, Head of the Unit of Trypanosoma (ITM)
Francesca Falconi, ITM alumna, microbiologist at Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Lima, Peru

Follow ITM and our work on:

To learn more about ITM's research on disease elimination, visit www.itg.be/en/research/disease-elimination

Strategy & Creation: Onlyhumans

Creation & Production: Sonhouse

Previous Episode

S3E1: Breaking the triangle

In this episode, we explore the deadly triangle that sustains many infectious diseases. We look over the shoulders of the experts who are fighting sleeping sickness, witnessing their progress... and their setbacks. Prepare to enter a strange world where little blue flags save lives, and where tsetse breeding factories emerge as unexpected allies.

For more information on Transmission, go to www.itg.be/podcast.

This episode features:

Elena Nicco, epidemiologist, Senior Researcher in the Unit of Mycobacterial Diseases and Neglected Tropical Diseases (ITM)
Jakke (Jan) Van Den Abbeele, parasitologist and insect molecular biologist, Head of the Unit of Trypanosoma (ITM)

Follow ITM and our work on:

To learn more about ITM's research on disease elimination, visit www.itg.be/en/research/disease-elimination

Strategy & Creation: Onlyhumans

Creation & Production: Sonhouse

Next Episode

S3E3: The last mile

In this episode, we walk the last mile of disease elimination—the hardest mile of all, with few cases left to study. Discover the logistical, financial and mental challenges that come with it, as our researchers gather community participation and build research centres from scratch. Listen to find out what it really takes to eliminate a disease...

For more information on Transmission, go to www.itg.be/podcast.

This episode features:

Elena Nicco, epidemiologist, Senior Researcher in the Unit of Mycobacterial Diseases and Neglected Tropical Diseases (ITM)
Jakke (Jan) Van Den Abbeele, parasitologist and insect molecular biologist, Head of the Unit of Trypanosoma (ITM)
Anna Rosanas-Urgell, parasitologist and malariologist, Head of the Unit of Malariology (ITM)
Ruth Müller, biologist and entomologist, Head of the Unit of Entomology (ITM)
Halidou Tinto, ITM alumnus, parasitologist and Head of Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro in Burkina Faso

Follow ITM and our work on:

To learn more about ITM's research on disease elimination, visit www.itg.be/en/research/disease-elimination

Strategy & Creation: Onlyhumans

Creation & Production: Sonhouse