Federal Bodysnatchers and the New Guinea Virus: Tales of Parasites, People, and Politics.ROBERT S. DESOWITZ In the 20 years since the publication of Desowitz' book Tape Worms and Jewish Grandmothers, the science of genetics in disease has advanced dramatically, as have potential treatments based on that science. However, as Desowitz elaborates, a series of social and political forces has impeded progress in some perilous diseases such as malaria and AIDS. The author motives, and political wrangling to illustrate how some therapeutic advances can be thwarted, especially in the world's poorest and most afflicted af·flict tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. [Middle English afflighten, from afflight, regions. Moreover, he considers how Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever a zoonotic disease of humans, in central Asia through to eastern Europe, who are in contact with livestock. Caused by a bunyavirus, it is transmitted by ticks. The principal signs are fever, widespread hemorrhages and necrotizing hepatitis. is afflicting af·flict tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. [Middle English afflighten, from afflight, Russians, why the originally African-Asian hantavirus hantavirus, any of a genus (Hantavirus) of single-stranded RNA viruses that are carried by rodents and transmitted to humans when they inhale vapors from contaminated rodent urine, saliva, or feces. There are many strains of hantavirus. has appeared in the United States, and how the emergence of such diseases can be tied to global warming. Norton, 2002, 262 p., hardcover, $24.95. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion