NOVA Season 30 Episode 1 Killer Disease on Campus

As a leading science documentary series, NOVA shines a spotlight on one of the most pressing concerns in American higher education—outbreaks of deadly infectious diseases on college campuses. The season 30 premiere, "Killer Disease on Campus," delves into the deadly outbreak that spread through a California college campus in 2018 and offers a revealing look at how experts and officials responded to the crisis.

The episode captures the unfolding of the event through the stories of those who witnessed it firsthand- the students, professors, medical staff and the public health officials, who battled to identify the source of the outbreak, mitigate its spread and contain its impact. The show draws attention to the challenges of responding to such an outbreak, and to the steps being taken to prevent it from happening again.

From the initial reports of an unusual flu outbreak to the frantic efforts of health officials to contain its spread, the episode walks viewers through the crisis. It explores the challenges of identifying a new and potentially deadly strain of the flu and the strategies being employed to contain it. It also sheds light on how the public health networks design containment strategies by tracking the spread of disease and working to curtail its impact.

Viewers will follow the outbreak into the lab, where scientists work around the clock to isolate the virus responsible for the deaths and diagnose the disease using advanced sequencing technologies. Experts also reveal how 21st-century technology is being used to develop vaccines more efficiently, predict outbreaks before they occur and prepare for worst-case scenarios.

Narrative-driven and well-researched, the show blends science, technology, and human drama in an absorbing hour that will leave viewers thinking about the ramifications of this outbreak on the campus and beyond. With its comprehensive and insightful look at this epidemic, NOVA's "Killer Disease on Campus" is a must-see for everyone concerned about public health and preparedness in the face of epidemic threats.