Scourge: The Once and Future Threat of Smallpox

Jonathan Tucker narrates a spell-binding story in amazing factual detail of smallpox. This deadly disease was heroically eradicated from our planet, along with its hideous, painful, disfiguring and often fatal characteristics. Many elderly citizens around the world bear the scar from smallpox vaccination, a practice now discontinued for the general population. The surprising history of how this came about was enlightening (Russia, not the US was the driving force behind it), and Tucker doesn't stop there. In its day, smallpox was the great scourge of the entire world, causing death, destruction and the ruin of entire civilizations. It was used as a biological weapon before the term was even invented. However, the most frightening part show more of this book happens after the world eradication of this disease, in the consideration of smallpox as a means of intentional mass destruction. Known and clandestine stocks of living virus still exist and continue to trigger urgent debates regarding their future. Your view of Variola Virus will never be the same after reading this excellent book.

Karen J. / Marathon County Public Library
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This was a fascinating, enlightening look at the history of small pox. The story is basically three acts, I: in antiquity, II: combating and defeat of small box, and III: political impediments to destroying remaining stockpiles. III is rather tedious and even disheartening. II stood out the most to me with Soviet Russia's successful internationalist instigation for a global effort to wipe out the disease and the engineering solutions of the US Army's jet injector and the bifurcated needle used during the World Health Organization's smallpox eradication campaign from 1966 to 1977.

This is a superbly researched account of the global program to eradicate smallpox. The science, politics and history of the illness are all presented in an engaging style that is very easy to read. The large number of fascinating anecdotes are presented from the entire history of smallpox was particularly enjoyable. The content is more historical in nature, dealing with the organizational challenges facing the smallpox eradication program. Those seeking more specific information about the biology of the virus should look to more specialized virology textbooks. The book is an excellent read for anyone with an interest in infectious disease or the history of smallpox.

Had read most of the material about early variolation and vaccination, but felt it was covered well here . Same with the information on the eradication campaign. The material on the controversy surrounding the destruction of the virus was all new to me, though and well presented. For a single volume covering most aspects of the virus, this one really informs without being exhaustive.

The book is quite interesting as an overview of the challenge faced in eradicating smallpox in the 20th century. The book is detailed and addresses WHO efforts worldwide as well as political challenges that impeded the work.

For the audio version: The narrator has an old-fashioned newscaster's tone and pacing, but annoying mispronounces many ordinary words. I am willing to overlook mispronunciation of technical terms, but the narrator should be able to speak standard English.

Worth reading and worth owning if you're particularly interested in the topic.