Secret Agents: the Menace of Emerging Infections.MADELINE DREXLER While the public consciousness is saturated with fears of bioterrorism, Drexler tries to shift the focus toward emerging natural pathogens. She points to diseases carried by animals and insects, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, foodborne pathogens foodborne pathogen Public health A pathogen–especially bacteria, for which the 'vector' is itself a food. See Airline food. , and lethal influenza as influenza A n. Influenza caused by infection with a strain of influenza virus type A. influenza A Infectious disease An avian virus, especially of ducks–which in China live near the pig reservoir and 'vector'; dangerous weapons in Mother Nature's arsenal. Chapters devoted to these subjects document occurrences of and responses to threats. Drexler reflects on outbreaks of swine flu swine flu n. A highly contagious form of human influenza caused by a filterable virus identical or related to a virus formerly isolated from infected swine. , legionnaire's disease Legionnaire's disease (lē'jənârz`), infectious, sometimes fatal, disease characterized by high fever, dry cough, lung congestion, and subsequent pneumonia. Major organs, such as the heart, may be damaged as the disease progresses. , and AIDS that took people by surprise in the past few decades. If we aren't better prepared, such history is certain to be repeated, she contends. Drexler discusses sophisticated epidemiological tools that are helping to identify some new infections before health emergencies occur. Finally, she surveys bioterrorism. Originally published in hardcover in 2002. Penguin, 2003, 320 p., paperback, $15.00. |
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