In this episode of A Moment in Health, Dr. Ashish Jha explains the significance behind the largest U.S. measles outbreak in 25 years, with 1,288 confirmed cases as of last week. He then highlights a major new study tracking two decades of U.S. childhood health trends and rising deaths due to firearms, substance use and suicide. Senior Adviser to the Pandemic Center and former South African Member of Parliament Wilmot James joins to share his perspective on America’s retreat from global health leadership, the erosion of soft power and the risks of being seen as an unreliable partner.

Dr. Jha discusses:

• Measles: restoring confidence in vaccine information — BMJ
• Trends in US Children’s Mortality, Chronic Conditions, Obesity, Functional Status, and Symptoms — JAMA

Dr. Wilmot James, an internationally recognized thought leader in biosecurity, global health, and pandemic preparedness, is a Senior Advisor to the Pandemic Center and a Professor of the Practice of Health Services, Policy and Practice. Dr. James has served as Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Health in South Africa, and most recently held positions at Columbia University as Senior Research Scholar at the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy and as Chair of the Center for Pandemic Research.

Dr. Ashish K. Jha is the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

Music by Katherine Beggs, additional music by Lulu West and Maya Polsky