Mosquito: A Natural History of Our Most Persistent and Deadly Foe. (New and Noteworthy).

Mosquito: A Natural History of Our Most Persistent and Deadly Foe, by Andrew Spielman and Michael D'Antonio (New York: Hyperion, 2001). Disease expert Andrew Spielman and journalist Michael D'Antonio have teamed up to create a compelling and stomach-turning portrait of the mosquito and its devastating impact on the course of human history. The book imparts a sense of both dread and admiration, describing the mosquito's ability to spark deadly epidemics, while detailing its evolutionary resiliency and cleverness.

Through its scientific exploration of the mosquito, the book provides a fascinating history of disease as well as a morality tale of human short-sightedness. Poorly planned human efforts to homogenize the land around us-- whether through resource extraction, building new settlements, or any number of other means--frequently give a boost to these "biological offensive weapons." Throughout history the mosquito has reshaped the course of human development, dealing fatal blows to entire armies and killing millions of people each year by transmitting diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis, West Nile Virus, filariasis, and of course, malaria.

At a time when medical conversation is dominated by topics like genetic engineering, Mosquito is an important reminder that substantial health improvements can be made cheaply and effectively through better understanding of science and public health. The book finds that in many cases mosquito behavior (preferences for feeding, sleeping, and breeding). and many human activities (forest clearing, trade in goods, and construction choices) are at odds and often needlessly expose people to these disease vectors. By seeking to smartly coexist with the mosquito rather than endlessly attempting to eradicate the insect, we can save lives and reduce human suffering.