A vital, timely text on the viruses that cause pandemics and how to
face them, by the New York Times bestselling author of How Not to
Die.
From tuberculosis to bird flu and HIV to coronavirus, these infectious
diseases share a common origin story: human interaction with animals.
Otherwise known as zoonotic diseases for their passage from animals to
humans, these pathogens--both pre-existing ones and those newly
identified--emerge and re-emerge throughout history, sparking epidemics
and pandemics that have resulted in millions of deaths around the world.
How did these diseases come about? And what--if anything--can we do to
stop them and their fatal march into our countries, our homes, and our
bodies? In How to Survive a Pandemic, Dr. Michael Greger, physician
and internationally-recognized expert on public health issues, delves
into the origins of some of the deadliest pathogens the world has ever
seen. Tracing their evolution from the past until today, Dr. Greger
spotlights emerging flu and coronaviruses as he examines where these
pathogens originated, as well as the underlying conditions and
significant human role that have exacerbated their lethal influence to
large, and even global, levels.
As the world grapples with the devastating impact of the novel
coronavirus 2019, Dr. Greger reveals not only what we can do to protect
ourselves and our loved ones during a pandemic, but also what human
society must rectify to reduce the likelihood of even worse catastrophes
in the future.
