GP Sceptics podcast 5: Lyme disease…don’t get sold a lemon

GP Sceptics

Ten thousand miles away…Australia’s closest lyme-carrying tick

https://drjustincoleman.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/pod5-final-1.mp3

To coincide with today’s Senate inquiry on how to catch Lyme Disease in Australia (short version – you can’t), Justin and Liz interview infectious disease expert Prof Frank Bowden, from Australian National University.

Frank swats aside a series of claims by Australian lyme disease proponents, but sounds stumped when Justin asks whether sentinel chickens or sentinel ticks are better at keeping watch.

The conversation takes a few twists, lurching from false positive US lab results to unrelated matters such as whether having sex before the game enhances or detracts from sports performance. You’ll have to listen to find out the answer.*

*Or you could always cheat and read the reference below

References:

Infectious: A doctor’s eye-opening insights into contagious diseases

Frank Bowden’s book, published 2016, including the chapter “Lyme is the new black”

Sexual Activity before Sports Competition: A Systematic Review

Frontiers in physiology June 2016

By Neko Richiko