Today, we are far less likely to die from infection than at any other
time in history, but still we worry about epidemics, the menace of
antibiotic resistance and modern 'plagues' like Ebola.
In this timely new book, eminent bacteriologist Hugh Pennington explores
why these fears remain and why they are unfounded. He reports on
outright victories (such as smallpox), battles where the enemy is on its
last stand (polio), surprise attacks from vegetarian bats (Ebola, SARS)
and demented cows (BSE). Qualified optimism, he argues, is the message
for the future but the battles will go on forever.