"As the human population explodes and globalization continues, diseases can spread from one country to another as fast as an airplane can fly. Whether a virus is unintentionally released via our modern transportation system, or deliberately by terrorists, even a small scale biological ""event"" could have a profound effect on our society. Yet our current public health system is completely unprepared to detect and respond quickly enough to avert a disease-related crisis.
Microbe does more than detail the threats that face us today. Containing riveting accounts of barely averted catastrophes (including outbreaks of West Nile virus, SARS, and hantavirus), the book examines the disjointed, ineffective system we all rely upon to keep us alive and healthy. More important, the book presents a solution to stop outbreaks and minimize the impact of an epidemic.
Illustrated with two hypothetical stories (an outbreak of bird flu in Southern California and a bioterrorism attack in Denver) Microbe looks at the potential effects of health disasters -- and offers practical steps to stop them in their tracks."
Table of Contents:
"Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Birds That Fell From the Sky -- West Nile Virus
Chapter 2: A Corona of Death -- SARS
Chapter 3: The Arroyo Muerte -- Sin Nombre Hantavirus
Chapter 4: Outbreaks, Reservoirs and Dead End Hosts
Chapter 5: Shards of Glass in the Brain -- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow)
Chapter 6: Out of the Shadows -- Legionella Pneumophila (Legionnaire’s Disease)
Chapter 7: An Ill Wind -- Smallpox
Chapter 8: Natural Born Killers --Why Some Germs Stay Bad
Chapter 9: Something in the Water - Cholera, Cryptosporidiosis
Chapter 10: When Hours Count - but Days Don't Matter - Anthrax
Chapter 11 Pronouncing the Patient CURED
Chapter 12: Project BIOWATCH - Plague Vials Vanish in Texas
Chapter 13: A New Weapon in the Fight
Chapter 14: Gold Nuggets and Influenza Vaccines -- DNA-based vaccines
Chapter 15: Three Ounces of Prevention -- Scenarios involving Avian Bird Flu, Bioterrorism using Smallpox
Chapter 16: Into a Crystal Ball, Darkly...
Appendix A: Glossary
Appendix B: Letter to Lev Sandhakchiev"
About the Author :
McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide
Review :
..". covers ground with clarity... enjoyable to read... an excellent primer for anyone seeking to understand the threat of microbial outbreaks."
-Care Management Journals
"[Microbe] covers a great deal of ground with a great deal of clarity on a timely topic....it is enjoyable to read, due in part to the sense of suspense and excitement of responding to dramatic outbreaks of disease that is conveyed to the reader....Microbe would serve as an excellent primer for anyone seeking to understand the threat of microbial outbreaks, both natural and man-made, and the range of responses being employed to defend against them."
-Care Management Journals
"BioSecurity Newsletter: ""This thought provoking book is a must read for anyone with concerns about or responsibility for early detection and containment of either emerging infectious diseases or the management of an epidemic caused by bioterrorism. In this delightfully pithy volume, the authors manage to interweave the recounting of past public health system failures with some good introductory science and some important insights into the 'clinical thought process'....The clarity with which the authors discuss the strengths and weakness of the nation's current disease detection efforts and their shortfalls is refreshing and raises important policy issues.""
www.electricreview.net: ""as important as it is gutsy -- discussing the fallibility of our health-defense structure in both enlightened and human terms.""
Emerging Infectious Diseases (Center for Disease Control and Prevention e-newsletter): ..".a comprehensive, yet succinct, account of the threat to public health posed by microbial pathogens. What distinguishes this book from the surfeit of recent books hyping the threat of bioterrorism are its balanced perspective and elucidation of naturally emerging disease threats, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or West Nile virus, as exotic entities requiring a rapid and effective response; Mother Nature is quite the bioterrorist herself...This book is the best of its genre and is recommended for anyone interested in understanding and managing the risks associated with emerging microbial threats.""
Albuquerque Sunday Journal: .".".the book is certainly valuable in making us aware of the problems in recognizing and reacting quickly to disease outbreaks, and to get us all thinking about possible solutions.""
The News Herald (Michigan): ""they've [the authors] written an intelligent, fast-moving and provocative book that is good reading for anyone who is not afraid to see the public health challenges we all face.""
The Futurist: ""Microbe will empower readers with that most essential of defenses--knowledge.""
Secrets of Special Ops Leadership by William A. Cohen, Ph.D., XXXXX (ISBN 0-8144-0840-0)
Chief Engineer: .".".it was as much fun to read as it was informative....A wonderfully written and extremely insightful book, every Chief and every small business owner or manager will come away with ideas on how they can win in any arena against any force they face.""
The Baltimore Sun: ""The authors do an excellent job of pointing out the failings of a 'highly balkanized' public health surveillance system in the United States....a great primer on the debate about whether the U.S. is ready for a pandemic.""
Science Books & Film: ""[A] timely and informative book...authoritatively written and the information conveyed is reliable.""
Journal of Chemical Education: ""If you want to read a comforting story of the benefits of modern science and medicine, this book isn't for you. If you want a serious overview of the broad dangers we face from natural and man-made pathogenic organisms, you'll get your money's worth from this book. You'll also find a sobering, real-life evaluation of the current status of the U.S. public health system."""
"BioSecurity Newsletter: ""This thought provoking book is a must read for anyone with concerns about or responsibility for early detection and containment of either emerging infectious diseases or the management of an epidemic caused by bioterrorism. In this delightfully pithy volume, the authors manage to interweave the recounting of past public health system failures with some good introductory science and some important insights into the 'clinical thought process'....The clarity with which the authors discuss the strengths and weakness of the nation's current disease detection efforts and their shortfalls is refreshing and raises important policy issues.""
www.electricreview.net: ""as important as it is gutsy -- discussing the fallibility of our health-defense structure in both enlightened and human terms.""
Emerging Infectious Diseases (Center for Disease Control and Prevention e-newsletter): ..".a comprehensive, yet succinct, account of the threat to public health posed by microbial pathogens. What distinguishes this book from the surfeit of recent books hyping the threat of bioterrorism are its balanced perspective and elucidation of naturally emerging disease threats, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or West Nile virus, as exotic entities requiring a rapid and effective response; Mother Nature is quite the bioterrorist herself...This book is the best of its genre and is recommended for anyone interested in understanding and managing the risks associated with emerging microbial threats.""
Albuquerque Sunday Journal: .".".the book is certainly valuable in making us aware of the problems in recognizing and reacting quickly to disease outbreaks, and to get us all thinking about possible solutions.""
The News Herald (Michigan): ""they've [the authors] written an intelligent, fast-moving and provocative book that is good reading for anyone who is not afraid to see the public health challenges we all face.""
The Futurist: ""Microbe will empower readers with that most essential of defenses--knowledge.""
Secrets of Special Ops Leadership by William A. Cohen, Ph.D., XXXXX (ISBN 0-8144-0840-0)
Chief Engineer: .".".it was as much fun to read as it was informative....A wonderfully written and extremely insightful book, every Chief and every small business owner or manager will come away with ideas on how they can win in any arena against any force they face.""
The Baltimore Sun: ""The authors do an excellent job of pointing out the failings of a 'highly balkanized' public health surveillance system in the United States....a great primer on the debate about whether the U.S. is ready for a pandemic.""
Science Books & Film: ""[A] timely and informative book...authoritatively written and the information conveyed is reliable.""
Journal of Chemical Education: ""If you want to read a comforting story of the benefits of modern science and medicine, this book isn't for you. If you want a serious overview of the broad dangers we face from natural and man-made pathogenic organisms, you'll get your money's worth from this book. You'll also find a sobering, real-life evaluation of the current status of the U.S. public health system."""
..". covers ground with clarity... enjoyable to read... an excellent primer for anyone seeking to understand the threat of microbial outbreaks."
-"Care Management Journals"
.".. covers ground with clarity... enjoyable to read... an excellent primer for anyone seeking to understand the threat of microbial outbreaks."
-"Care Management Journals"
"["Microbe"] covers a great deal of ground with a great deal of clarity on a timely topic....it is enjoyable to read, due in part to the sense of suspense and excitement of responding to dramatic outbreaks of disease that is conveyed to the reader...."Microbe" would serve as an excellent primer for anyone seeking to understand the threat of microbial outbreaks, both natural and man-made, and the range of responses being employed to defend against them."
-"Care Management Journals"
“… covers ground with clarity… enjoyable to read… an excellent primer for anyone seeking to understand the threat of microbial outbreaks.”
-"Care Management Journals"
“["Microbe"] covers a great deal of ground with a great deal of clarity on a timely topic….it is enjoyable to read, due in part to the sense of suspense and excitement of responding to dramatic outbreaks of disease that is conveyed to the reader…."Microbe" would serve as an excellent primer for anyone seeking to understand the threat of microbial outbreaks, both natural and man-made, and the range of responses being employed to defend against them.”
-"Care Management Journals"
"BioSecurity Newsletter: ""This thought provoking book is a must read for anyone with concerns about or responsibility for early detection and containment of either emerging infectious diseases or the management of an epidemic caused by bioterrorism. In this delightfully pithy volume, the authors manage to interweave the recounting of past public health system failures with some good introductory science and some important insights into the ‘clinical thought process’....The clarity with which the authors discuss the strengths and weakness of the nation's current disease detection efforts and their shortfalls is refreshing and raises important policy issues.""
www.electricreview.net: ""as important as it is gutsy -- discussing the fallibility of our health-defense structure in both enlightened and human terms.""
Emerging Infectious Diseases (Center for Disease Control and Prevention e-newsletter): “…
.,." covers ground with clarity... enjoyable to read... an excellent primer for anyone seeking to understand the threat of microbial outbreaks." -"Care Management Journals"
"["Microbe"] covers a great deal of ground with a great deal of clarity on a timely topic....it is enjoyable to read, due in part to the sense of suspense and excitement of responding to dramatic outbreaks of disease that is conveyed to the reader...."Microbe" would serve as an excellent primer for anyone seeking to understand the threat of microbial outbreaks, both natural and man-made, and the range of responses being employed to defend against them." -"Care Management Journals"
"BioSecurity Newsletter: ""This thought provoking book is a must read for anyone with concerns about or responsibility for early detection and containment of either emerging infectious diseases or the management of an epidemic caused by bioterrorism. In this delightfully pithy volume, the authors manage to interweave the recounting of past public health system failures with some good introductory science and some important insights into the 'clinical thought process'....The clarity with which the authors discuss the strengths and weakness of the nation's current disease detection efforts and their shortfalls is refreshing and raises important policy issues."" www.electricreview.net: ""as important as it is gutsy -- discussing the fallibility of our health-defense structure in both enlightened and human terms.""
Emerging Infectious Diseases (Center for Disease Control and Prevention e-newsletter): .,."a comprehensive, yet succinct, account of the threat to public health posed by microbial pathogens. What distinguishes this book from the surfeit of recent books hyping the threat of bioterrorism are its balanced perspective and elucidation of naturally emerging disease threats, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or West Nile virus, as exotic entities requiring a rapid and effective response; Mother Nature is quite the bioterrorist herself...This book is the best of its genre and is recommended for anyone interested in understanding and managing the risks associated with emerging microbial threats.""
Albuquerque Sunday Journal:,,"."the book is certainly valuable in making us aware of the problems in recognizing and reacting quickly to diseaseoutbreaks, and to get us all thinking about possible solutions.""
The News Herald (Michigan): ""they've [the authors] written an intelligent, fast-moving and provocative book that is good reading for anyone who is not afraid to see the public health challenges we all face.""
The Futurist: ""Microbe will empower readers with that most essential of defenses--knowledge.""
Secrets of Special Ops Leadership by William A. Cohen, Ph.D., XXXXX (ISBN 0-8144-0840-0)
Chief Engineer:,,"."it was as much fun to read as it was informative....A wonderfully written and extremely insightful book, every Chief and every small business owner or manager will come away with ideas on how they can win in any arena against any force they face.""
The Baltimore Sun: ""The authors do an excellent job of pointing out the failings of a 'highly balkanized' public health surveillance system in the United States....a great primer on the debate about whether the U.S. is ready for a pandemic.""
Science Books & Film: ""[A] timely and informative book...authoritatively written and the information conveyed is reliable.""
Journal of Chemical Education: ""If you want to read a comforting story of the benefits of modern science and medicine, this book isn't for you. If you want a serious overview of the broad dangers we face from natural and man-made pathogenic organisms, you'll get your money's worth from this book. You'll also find a sobering, real-life evaluation of the current status of the U.S. public health system."""
