Books about plagues are one of my weaknesses. I'm fascinated by the mystery aspect of epidemiology, by the science of discovering the way a new disease works, by the political and social implications of epidemics and pandemics, and by the ways in which individuals respond to outbreaks. This book has the added advantage of examining the way environmental issues lead to new diseases.

The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett really broadened my understanding of modern disease issues, and is my personal high-water mark for gripping narrative. This is more personal, and more tightly focused, but no less readable. I would recommend this particularly to readers not already steeped in the issues or literature, as it would make a great introduction.

Review copy provided by Netgalley. ( )

I have always been interested in infectious disease, how they affected human history, and most importantly the threats we are facing today.
The author chose seven modern plagues but could have chosen so many more. I really found the book to be well researched and very informative as well as very well written for readers. It would be a great introduction to those who are unfamiliar with diseases but who want to learn a bit. A few years ago, I read about prion disease in detail and was very impressed with how accurate Mark Jerome Walters was on the topic. It was obvious he did much research and made sure it was accurate and up to date. It really is a must read and a wake up call for all of us. He repeatedly makes the connection that many of these diseases have been caused by our own human behavior whether it be changing the climate or the way we interact with animals or cultivating the land. I really recommend it to anyone who wants to know how and why these diseases are coming to light and why there is a very real threat of a coming plague. I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review. ( )

In the 50s and 60s, it appeared that we were entering a golden age of disease-free living. Vaccinations for the likes of polio and smallpox were on the way to essentially eliminating these scourges. Then just ten years later, we began to see new diseases. Today public health officials say they have more infectious diseases to deal with than they did 30 years ago. (And this says nothing of all the new autoimmune diseases.) Seven Modern Plagues follows them as they unfold, as health officials determine what they are, and detective work tells us how they came to be.

The seven sisters are Mad Cow, HIV/AIDS, Salmonella, Lyme, Hantavirus, West Nile, and pandemic flu, with special mention for the up and coming Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. This is the second edition of this book. The first was called Six Modern Plagues. Clearly there is a lifelong franchise here.

The villain, naturally, is us. By tampering with the feeding needs of cattle, by polluting the air, and travelling far and wide, we are constantly tempting the gods to strike back. And we keep begging for it.

In 1970, the UK banned the use of antibiotics in cattle, leading to a huge reduction in the cases of salmonella, as resistant strains no longer held advantage over common strains. Meanwhile at the other extreme in the USA, Congress was encouraged to consider applying antibiotic treatments to children, to keep them disease free and encourage growth, just like in cattle and poultry. That’s how far America is from standing up to the agribusiness lobby and banning it in farm animals. The result is antibiotic residue everywhere – in the water, on the ground, in everything we eat. So they become ineffective and diseases become antibiotic-proof.

Seven Modern Plagues also explains how pigs figure into the flu disaster. Multiple pathogens can exist in the same cells in pigs. They mingle, share DNA, and the result is a spanking new flu virus they can share with both birds and people, every year. So this is never going to stop.

Mice far more than deer are carriers of Lyme disease, and the new wet, warm climates have seen mouse populations not just increase but multiply. Same for the eternal mosquito: hot summers mean more them, spreading farther, and distributing West Nile along the way.

It is disheartening that we have so little control over ourselves and that our mismanagement has opened this Pandora’s Box of pestilence. But shedding this kind of light on them and putting them in perspective, is clearly a valuable public service.

David Wineberg ( )