In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, host Eoin Walker sits down with infection control specialist Muhammad Halwani to explore what it really takes to prevent and manage infectious disease threats in extreme environments.

From the early days of MERS in 2012 to the global arrival of COVID 19, Muhammad walks through the realities of outbreak response in Saudi Arabia, the challenges of training frontline teams, the role of rapid diagnostics, antibiotic resistance, and how public health systems adapt under pressure.

Together they discuss:
• The lessons learned from managing MERS and how they shaped COVID 19 preparedness
• Diagnostic challenges and the evolution of infection control protocols
• Training healthcare providers to work safely in high risk environments
• Public health communication, leadership, and societal compliance
• How antibiotic resistance shapes care in the field
• Why extreme environments require unique infection control approaches

They also explore the growing appetite for extreme medicine training in Saudi Arabia, and the need for specialised courses, fellowships, and international collaboration.