Patient Zero Lyme Disease: A medical mystery

The Premise (from Apple Podcasts):

How are medical mysteries solved? And what happens when questions remain? Patient Zero is an investigation of the spaces where people and pathogens collide. This season, we take a deep dive in to the history – and mystery – of one of the fastest spreading epidemics of our time: Lyme disease.

Series or standalone:

Series

Begin listening to:

The Triangle

Format:

Investigative reporting

Host(s):

Taylor Quimby

Sound/production quality:

Very good

Rating/age suitability:

Adult (and maybe teen, depending on the appeal)

Approximate length of episodes:

40 minutes

Curricular ties:

Probably not

Similar recommended pods:

N/A

Podcast Librarian’s Review:

This is a buzzy pod that is about the history and present state of Lyme disease, but it’s also about all the different conditions that exist which are misdiagnosed as Lyme disease. For my fellow Bravo fans out there (old school RHOBH, specifically, featuring one Yolanda Foster), you’ll understand why I just had to listen to this one. New Hampshire Public Radio is killing it lately with pods that are interesting, informative, well-produced, and have a fun narrative. This could have been a dry report about the topic but thankfully includes some jokes and light moments, all in a wonderfully informative storytelling format. It features interviews with patients, doctors, researchers, and others who were affected by Lyme (or something else similar—it’s crazy how difficult it is to get an accurate diagnosis). The first episode had me hooked with the tale of the first cases of Lyme in Connecticut—which at the time, appeared to be a mysterious case of contagious juvenile arthritis. I recommend this pod to anyone who likes storytelling, medical mysteries, science, or serial pods.