Viruses, Plagues, and History: Past, Present and Future

Other reviewers have said less than nice things about Professor (at the Scirpps Research Institute) Oldstone's book. I think these reviewers are missing the point of this vital book, which must be read.Chapter 15 "Mad Cow Disease and Englishmen: Spongiform Encephalopathies-Prion Disease," is worth the price of admission alone.There is a one and one half page quote by Dr. Stanley Prusiner (see my review of his book, "Madness and Memory"), which should be read by everyone who eats beef.On page 300 we have Prusiner "testified before the U.S. Congress and wrote an op-ed piece stating that the testing (for mad cow) used in this country is inadequate and that every cow should be tested."Further there is a 2005 quote, where he states:"Boneless steaks and roasts are probably safe to eat. The riskiest meats are ground beef, hot dogs, taco filling, and pizza toppings - the things children love. These products can come out of 'advanced meat recovery' machines ... [S]till, there's no law against them, even though a USDA study in 2002 found that only 12 percent of the processing plants it examined consistently produced meat from these machines that was free of nervous system tissue (where spongiform encephalopathies are primarily located).A suggestion is to eat only 100% grass fed, organic beef products.From "Chemical Evolution," (1991) by Stephen F. Mason: page 251- on prions "... the traditional prebiotic (the study of the chemical origins of living organisms) protein worlds retain their place, now as possible precursors of the more elaborate nucleic acid epoch."See also:National Meat Association v. Harris, Attorney General of California; this was a California case was eventually decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 23, 2012.see: caselaw.lp.findlaw.com, this opinion should be read.See also: "Northeastern University Law Journal," Vol. 4, No. 1, Spring 2012 (available at Amazon) for the "Notes and Comment," "California's Continued Struggle Against Nonambulatory Animal Slaughter and the Limits of Federal Preemption: 'National Meat Association v. Brown'" pp. 259-291. (There is also a footnote in this comment, #137, which discusses "PhIP's," which see, that cooking meat (except for boiling) causes "carcinogenic chemicals" in the meat.This is case is relevant to Mr. Prusiner's book in that the main issue as presented in the court case was the humane treatment of "downer" cows and pigs in a cull-cow slaughter plant in Chino, California. See [...]The U.S. Supreme Court Case came from the U.S. Court of Apeals for the Ninth Circuit, Primary Citation 599 F.3d. 1093 (C.A.9 (Cal.), 2010- see [...]. This opinion contains much more information and should be read; and upheld the California law (which be the way was a change of the Cal Penal Code by the State Legislature). The U.S. Supreme Court reversed and sided with the Meat Association on the grounds that Federal Law trumps State (California) Law on the same issues.In these court opinions there is no mention at all of prions or of the disease of prion proteins or of "mad cow" et. al. This case dealt with "downer" animals, which in the U.K. has caused a crisis, and leads directly to the disease of prion proteins, yet the Courts do not discuss this issue. The disease of Prion proteins is a national, worldwide public health issue.The U.S. Supreme Court decided this case on the technicalities of Federal law trumping State law on the same issue and no mention at all was made of any Prion disease or "Mad Cow" disease is made in the U.S. Supreme Court decision or in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision.

Note: I did not purchase this book from Amazon, as I prefer to support local, independent bookstores whenever possible.In general, this topic is fascinating. The first two chapters are extremely dense for someone not in the medical/research community, and would benefit from just a couple pages reviewing the basics of cell structure. The author's credentials on viruses appear to be extremely strong, but his knowledge of history is somewhat less so.One example was my disappointment in finding no exploration of the most consequential plagues in western history, which ravaged classical Athens during the Peloponnesian War with Sparta. This plague killed over 100,000 Athenians, including Pericles, at a time when Athens was engaged in an existential struggle. Although the historian Thucydides described many of the symptoms, the specific cause of the disease has never been unambiguously identified. I would have welcomed the author's perspective on this historic event.

I highly recommend purchasing this book. It is very difficult to put it down when you start reading it. This writer has done an excellent job documenting in detail many of the killer viruses that have affected the world and how politics and religion impeded the success of diagnosing and treating the patients who suffered. It was intriguing to read the stories of people throughout history who treated these patients and the many personal accounts of people and events that explain in interesting detail about the ones who lived and the ones who died. You will have a much better understanding of killer viruses and become versed on the history of the diagnoses and treatment. Don’t hesitate purchasing this book if it is available. You will be pleased and it will greatly expand your knowledge if you are in the medical profession or not. It is very easy to read and understand for anyone despite their background.

A terrific history of viruses of the last 250 yrs.The intro & early chapter explains virology & epidemiology, then continues with plagues of the past (which killed or disabled millions)—smallpox, polio etc. Later sections deal with HIV, Ebola, Lassa & Hanta viruses & influenza types like H1N1 etc. Although the book was written 10 years ago, thus doesn’t cover Covid, the final chapter prophesies a return of new influenza forms. There are several extremely critical references to the politicalization of pandemics & the often fatal consequences of the “blame game.” I have sent the book to a science teacher who can’t wait to read it, after hearing my recommendation.

Humans have endured much that directly affect their lives but none more so than viruses and plagues. Covid 19 is now a devastating precursor to more deadly and infectious diseases that will occur. The world community must adapt and overcome these concerns, yet medical cooperation is essential if we humans expect to live longer and fruitful lives. Now is not the time to take these matters for granted.

This is a good read if you are interested in viruses. The early chapters are a bit technical in describing how viruses work and how the body defends (or otherwise) itself. But this can be skimmed if you are not scientific as there are some good summary paragraphs in the text.The descriptions of each virus and how it affects and has affected human and non human life and history are top class.For example, how smallpox has been indicated in human life since antiquity, through the affect on American Civil war to modern terror worries. How Lincoln survived the disease, Edward Jenner and Cowpox, variolation and vaccination, and anti viral treatment example, eradication of the disease and so on. I am glad to say that these chapters are not too detailed nor too scientific (I am an ex-scientist) and provide marvellous high level reading.Recommended if you take an interest in how viruses work, how we defend ourselves and how they have affected the world.

Informative and well written book. However, the only criticism I have is this : it needs to be updated.The book covers the main plagues and pandemics but it seems to concentrated on what recent viruses are doing to America.Anyway, as a medic I recommend it.

Could not put it down!

most informative and well written

Excellent book, cannot praise enough - a must for anyone with an interest.