The Dose

Canada's Bill C-34 aims to restrict social media access for people under the age of 16. Supporters say it could help reduce rising rates of depression, anxiety and social isolation. But Dr. Shimi Kang, a psychiatrist and clinical associate professor at UBC, says the proposed restrictions need more clarity, noting that social media can also help marginalized young people find support.

For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. For more episodes of this podcast, click this link.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected in Toronto and Vancouver for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but what does that mean for public health? Dr. Michelle Murti, medical officer of health for Toronto Public Health, says her team has planned for everything from infectious diseases to heat to food safety, and will be ready when the games kick off.

For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. For more episodes of this podcast, click this link.

An Ebola outbreak coursing through the Democratic Republic of Congo has experts worried it might rival the worst outbreak in history. Dr. Joanne Liu was president of Doctors Without Borders during that deadly 2014 outbreak in West Africa. As countries like Canada suspend travel from Congo, Liu says border closures don't help mitigate the spread of disease — only treating Ebola can.

For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. For more episodes of this podcast, click this link.

As ticks and tick-borne diseases rise across Canada due to warmer weather, experts are warning about two invasive species: the lone star and Asian longhorned ticks. Entomologist Jade Savage, creator and director of the eTick monitoring platform, says authorities are closely tracking them. In the meantime, she gives practical steps we can take to reduce the risk of tick bites.

For our episode on anaplasmosis, an emerging tick-borne disease in Canada, click here.

For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. For more episodes of this podcast, click this link.

From seasonal allergies to infections, red eyes can have many causes. University of Calgary ophthalmologist Dr. Helen Chung talks about what’s behind eye redness, when drops can help, and when it’s time to see a doctor.

For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. For more episodes of this podcast, click this link.