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Viruses, Plagues, and History

by: Michael B. A. Oldstone

ISBN: 9780195134223 | 0195134222

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Pub. Date: 4/20/2000

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Summary Table of Contents Author Biography

The story of viruses and the story of humanity have been intertwined since the dawn of history. The first small cities formed not only the cradle of civilization, but the spawning ground for the earliest viral epidemics, the first opportunity for viruses to find a home in the human herd. This is a story of fear and ignorance, as everything from demons and the wrath of the gods to minority groups have been blamed for epidemics from smallpox to yellow fever to AIDS. It is a story of grief and heartbreak, as hundreds of thousands, sometimes millio... MOREns, are wiped out in a single year. And it is a story of great bravery and sacrifice, as doctors and nurses put themselves in harm's way to combat yellow fever in Memphis and Ebola in Zaire, and as researchers risk their own lives to test theories of vaccines and the transmission of disease. Now, in Viruses, Plagues, and History, Michael B. A. Oldstone tells all these stories as he illuminates the history of the devastating diseases that have tormented humanity. Oldstone focuses his tale on a few of the most famous viruses humanity has battled, beginning with some we have effectively defeated, such as smallpox, polio, and measles. Nearly 300 million people were killed by smallpox in this century alone -- more than were killed in all the wars of the twentieth century combined. The author presents a vivid account of the long campaign against the virus, the insightful work of Edward Jenner, who created the smallpox vaccine from cowpox virus in 1796, and the monumental efforts of D. A. Henderson and an army of W.H.O. health care workers to finally eradicate smallpox. The smallpox virus remains the only organism that we have deliberately pushed to complete extinction in the wild. Oldstone then describes the fascinating viruses that have captured headlines in more recent years: Ebola and other hemorrhagic fevers, which literally turn their victims' organs to a bloody pulp; the Hantavirus outbreaks in the southwestern United States and elsewhere; mad cow disease, a frightening illness made worse by government mishandling and secrecy; and, of course, AIDS, often called "the plague of our time." And he tells us of the many scientists watching and waiting even now for the next great plague, monitoring influenza strains to see whether the deadly variant from 1918 -- a viral strain that killed over 20 million people in 1918-1919, more than twice the military and civilian casualties of the First World War -- will make a comeback. Viruses have enormous power. They have wiped out cities, brought down dynasties, and helped destroy civilizations. But, as Michael Oldstone reveals, scientific research has given us the power to tame many of these viruses as well. Viruses, Plagues, and History shows us the panorama of humanity's long-standing conflict with our unseen viral enemies, from our successes to our continuing struggles. Oldstone's book is a vivid history of a fascinating field, and a highly reliable dispatch from a worker on the frontiers of this ongoing campaign.

Oldstone presents a vivid history of a fascinating field, focusing on the most famous viruses humanity has battled: smallpox, polio, measles, yellow fever, and the new, unconquered strains of Ebola, Hantavirus, mad cow disease, and AIDS. 56 illustrations.

Viruses have enormous power. They have wiped out cities, brought down dynasties, and helped destroy civilizations. But, as a leading US virologist reveals in his new book, scientific research has given us the power to tame many of these viruses as well. In Viruses, Plagues, and History, Michael B. Oldstone shows us the panorama of humanity's long-standing conflict with our unseen viral enemies, from our successes to our continuing struggles. His account ranges from a few of the most famous viruses of history, such as yellow fever and measles, to those such as AIDS, Ebola and mad cow disease which still threaten us today. A vivid history of a fascinating field, Oldstone's book offers an inside perspective on the scientists and health workers who have managed to eradicate plagues such as polio and smallpox, and details the heroic efforts now underway to keep us safe from the next great plague.

Preface

Part One Viruses, Plagues, and History

A General Introduction

(5)

Introduction to the Principles of Virology

... MORE

(8)

Introduction to the Principles of Immunology

(11)

Part Two Success Stories

Smallpox

(18)

Yellow Fever

(28)

Measles Virus

(17)

Poliomyelitis

(27)

Part Three Present and Future Challenges

An Overview of Newly Emerging Viral Plagues: The Hemorrhagic Fevers

117

(8)

Lassa Fever

125

(5)

Ebola

130

(6)

Hantavirus

136

(4)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection---``AIDS, the Current Plague''

140

(18)

Mad Cow Disease and Englishmen: Spongiform Encephalopathies---Virus or Prion Disease?

158

(14)

Influenza Virus, the Plague That May Return

172

(15)

Conclusions and Future Predictions

187

(6)

Afternotes

193

(14)

Works Cited

207

(16)

Index

223

Michael B. A. Oldstone is a Member (Professor) at the Scripps Research Institute, where he directs a laboratory of viral immunobiology. He is currently a member of the World Health Organization steering committee concerned with the eradication of measles and poliovirus, an editor of the journal Virology, and the recipient of numerous scientific honors. He was also Scientific Counselor for the intramural program of the Allergy and Infectious Disease Unit of the National Institute of Health and was recently elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

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