Science Friction

02 | Patient Zero: The basement files

November 10, 2026·41 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

A junior doctor uncovers a mystery that rewrites the story of a famous epidemic — and we learn the troubling origins of 'patient zero' as a concept.Guests:Dr John GerrardDirector of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Gold Coast University HospitalProfessor Sharon LewinDirector, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityPhil CarswellFounding president, Victorian AIDS CouncilBill BowtellAdjunct professor, University of New South WalesHost:Olivia WillisProducers:Cheyne Anderson, James BullenExecutive Producer:Joel WernerSound Design:Tim Jenkins

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