Description
More people were killed by smallpox during the twentieth century--over 300 million--than by all of the wars of that period combined. In 1918 and 1919, influenza virus claimed over 50 million lives. A century later, influenza is poised to return, ongoing plagues of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis infect millions, and Ebola, Zika, and West Nile viruses cause new concern and panic.The overlapping histories of humans and viruses are ancient. Earliest cities became both the cradle of civilization and breeding grounds for the first viral epidemics. This overlap is the focus of virologist/immunologist Michael Oldstone in Viruses, Plagues and History. Oldstone explains principles of viruses and epidemics while recounting stories of viruses and their impact on human history. This fully updated second edition includes engrossing new chapters on hepatitis, Zika, and contemporary threats such as the possible return of a catastrophic influenza, and the impact of fear of autism on vaccination efforts. This is a fascinating panorama of humankind's longstanding conflict with unseen viral enemies, both human successes--such as control of poliomyelitis, measles, smallpox and yellow fever, and continued dangers--such as HIV and Ebola. Impeccably researched and accessibly written, Viruses, Plagues and History will fascinate all with an interest in how viral illnesses alter the course of human history.
Table of Contents
Part One: Viruses, Plagues, and HistoryChapter 1. A General IntroductionChapter 2. Introduction to the Principles of VirologyChapter 3. Introduction to the Principles of ImmunologyPart Two: Success StoriesChapter 4. SmallpoxChapter 5. Yellow FeverChapter 6. Measles VirusChapter 7. PoliomyelitisChapter 8. Hepatitis Viruses: Oysters, Blood Transfusions, and CancerPart Three: Present and Future ChallengesChapter 9. An Overview of Newly Emerging Viral Plagues: The Hemorrhagic Fevers and A Newly Mysterious Suspect of Viral Disease, Acute Flaccid ParalysisChapter 10. Lassa FeverChapter 11. EbolaChapter 12. HantavirusChapter 13. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): The First Pandemic of the 21st Century, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and 2019-2020 Outbreak of 2019-nCoVChapter 14. West Nile Virus: Deaths of Crows and HumansChapter 15. Zika Comes to the Western Hemisphere and Americas: How, When, ConsequencesChapter 16. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): AIDS, the Current PlagueChapter 17. Mad Cow Disease and Englishmen: Dementia of Humans - Prions: Folding Protein Transmissible DiseasesChapter 18. Influenza Virus, the Plague That Will Continue to ReturnChapter 19. Apathy and Ignorance: False Prophets of Autism and the Anti-Vaccine MovementChapter 20. Conclusions and Future Predictions
