Irwin W. Sherman - The Power of Plagues

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Second Edition

Irwin W. Sherman

University of California at San Diego

Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part or reused in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Disclaimer: To the best of the publisher’s knowledge, this publication provides information concerning the subject matter covered that is accurate as of the date of publication. The publisher is not providing legal, medical, or other professional services. Any reference herein to any specific commercial products, procedures, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favored status by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). The views and opinions of the author(s) expressed in this publication do not necessarily state or reflect those of ASM, and they shall not be used to advertise or endorse any product.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sherman, Irwin W., author.

Title: The power of plagues / Irwin W. Sherman.

Description: 2nd edition. | Washington, DC : ASM Press, [2017] |

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017005669 (print) | LCCN 2017006703 (ebook) |

ISBN 9781683670001 (hardcover : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781683670018 (ebook)

doi:10.1128/9781683670018

Subjects: LCSH: Communicable diseases–History. | Epidemics–History. | Diseases and history.

Classification: LCC RA643 .S55 2017 (print) | LCC RA643 (ebook) | DDC 616.9–dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017005669

All Rights Reserved

Address editorial correspondence to

ASM Press, 1752 N St., N.W.,

Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA

Send orders to ASM Press, P.O. Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172, USA

Phone: 800-546-2416; 703-661-1593

Fax: 703-661-1501

E-mail: books@asmusa.org

Online: http://www.asmscience.org

Cover: “La peste en Mandchourie” Le Petit Journal n° 1057 du 19 Fev. 1911

Design: Lou Moriconi ( http://lmoriconi.com/)

Plagues, the historian Asa Briggs observed, “are a dramatic unfolding of events; they are stories of discovery, reaction, conflict, illness and resolution.” They test “the efficiency and resilience of local and administrative structures” and “expose the relentlessly political, social and moral shortcomings…rumors, suspicions, and at times violent…conflicts.” This book was written to make the science of epidemic diseases—plagues—accessible and understandable. It is a guide through the maze of contagious diseases, their past importance, the means by which we came to understand them, the methods and practices for control and eradication, and failing this how they may affect our future.

My objective in writing the Power of Plagues has been to provide an understanding of epidemic diseases and their impact on lives past, present and future. As a biologist I wanted to examine infectious diseases that have been and continue to afflict humankind. In this 2 ndedition I describe the nature and evolution of a selected group of diseases and then aim to show how past experiences can prepare us for future encounters with them. It is also a status report of where we are today with infectious diseases that are emerging and re-emerging to inflict harm not only to the individual but to larger segments of the world’s populations. This edition covers modern disease outbreaks, such as anthrax, cholera, Ebola disease, HIV, influenza, Lyme disease, malaria, tuberculosis, and Zika disease, as well as the threat of antimicrobial resistance.