Emerging Biological Threats: A Reference Guide [Hardcover]

An engaging, nontechnical discussion of the infectious diseases and other biological threats that pose the highest risk to humans, presented in the context of relevant environmental and sociological trends.

What biological agents should we truly be afraid of? Which have garnered more attention than they warrant?Emerging Biological Threats: A Reference Guideis the antidote for the confusion surrounding the potentially devastating impact of pathogens on the human community. Written by a frontline professional in epidemiology, it is the most authoritative yet engagingly written resource available on the real risks we face, and the countermeasures used to confront them.

Emerging Biological Threatsprovides the information needed to understand significant direct threats to human health, as well as those that impact us indirectly by destroying livestock and crops. Focused primarily on the United States, it offers science-based yet accessible explorations of HIV, influenza, drug-resistant pathogens, tuberculosis, meningitis, and more. In addition, the book assesses current predictions about the future spread of various diseases as a result of climate change and overpopulation. The book concludes with chapters on relevant environmental and sociological trends and a discussion of current public health strategy.

Callahan, who has worked as a researcher and consultant and most recently as an epidemiologist for the Naval Health Research Center, provides a resource on significant biological threats to human health, as well as those having indirect impact by destroying livestock and crops. Focusing on the US, she explores HIV, influenza, drug-resistant pathogens, tul“ˆ