Emerging Viruses - Softcover

Morse, Stephen S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195104846 ISBN 13: 9780195104844

Publisher: Oxford University Press USA, 1993

Synopsis

This important book examines the biologic, ecologic, and social factors responsible for the continuing emergence of new viral diseases. The book should appeal to a wide readership. It should be read by those responsible for curriculm design for medical and public health shcools, by all professional workers dealing with infectious diseases, by biomedical writers responsible for informing the public, and by those responsible for determining priorities for the funding of health programs and biomedical research and training. Thomas H Weller in The New England Journal of Medicine.

This volume presents 28 brief chapters in dazzling variety, only a handful of them in too narrow a jargon, Scientific American.

Resisting the tempation to present a doomsday scenario, the authors have achieved a well-balanced account. The book is scholarly, thoughtful, and well written, and scientific jargon has been kept to a minium, making it easy and enjoyable reading even for those with a limited background in biology". Walter Dowdle in Science

New epidemics such as AIDS and "mad cow" disease have dramatized the need to explore the factors underlying rapid viral evolution and emerging viruses. This comprehensive volume is the first to describe this multifaceted new field. It places viral evolution and emergence in a historical context, describes the interaction of viruses with hosts, and details the advances in molecular biology and epidemiology that have provided the tools necessary to track developing viral epidemics and to detect new viruses far more successfully than could be done in the recent past. This unique book also lucidly details case histories and offers practical suggestions for the prevention of future epidemics. The contributors are leading authorities in their disciplines, and were selected both for their expert knowledge and for their ability to define and elucidate the fundamental issues. The book is highly accessible and has been written for a wide audience that includes virologists, public health authorities, medical anthropologists, evolutionary biologists, geneticists, infectious disease specialists, and social scientists interested in medical and health issues.

About this title

Review

'The publication of Emerging Viruses is ... very timely. All 29 chapters are written by recognized experts in the field ... viruses selected for detailed discussions in the book are excellent examples of emerging virus diseases ... an excellent training resource, and should be required reading for all infectious disease and public health professionals.'Duane J. Gubler, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Fort Collins, Trends in Microbiology, 104, Vol. 2, No. 3, March 1994

'a thoroughly fascinating book ... Until it is read, the subject's importance is perhaps not fully realised - even by some virologists!'John R. Foster, Br J Biomed Sci 1994

'This book is for the scientifically literate general reader and the specialist. Often crossing disciplinary lines it systematically explores what is known about the reasons for viral emergence.'In Context/No.39

We now realize that infectious organisms are ... likely to be major worldwide threats into the distant future ... Emerging Viruses is the first book that confronts this problem and offers a program through which the concept of preventative medicine might be expanded to encompass preventative epidemiology ... one major advancement of a discipline should be enough for one book, and this book certainly has made one: It has focused attention on a forward-looking approach to recognize and block the emergence of viruses ... a fine reference point for readers who wish to become familiar with the issue of emerging viruses ... ideas in the book are ... helping to propel us ahead of our pathogenic threats. (Paul W. Ewald, Amherst College, The Quarterly Review of Biology, September 1994)

Emerging Viruses is aimed at a broad readership. It can be read with profit by professional scientists, by students, by decision makers and by anyone with an interest in biomedicine. The chapters are skilfully edited and the book is realistically priced. (Craig Pringle, University of Warwick, Society for General Microbiology Quarterly, Feb 1995)

Synopsis

New epidemics such as AIDS and 'mad cow' disease have dramatized the need to explore the factors underlying rapid viral evolution and emerging viruses. Now available in paperback, this comprehensive book is the first to describe this multifaceted new field. The book places viral evolution and emergence in a historical context, describes the interaction of viruses with hosts, and details the advances in molecular biology and epidemiology that have provided the tools necessary to track developing viral epidemics and to detect new viruses far more successfully than could be done in the recent past. Case histories and practical suggestions for the prevention of future epidemics are given. From reviews of the hardback: "excellent examples of emerging virus diseases...an excellent training resource, and should be required reading for all infectious disease and public health professionals." Trends in Microbiology "a fine reference point for readers who wish to become familiar with the issue of emerging viruses" The Quarterly Review of Biology

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press USA
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195104846
• ISBN 13: 9780195104844
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352