Zoonotic Infection: Spillover

[FarmerJohn]

The book, Spillover concerns itself with zoonotic viruses and bacteria.

Very well written in my opinion.

A Booklist Top 10 Science Book of 2012, a 2012 New York Times Book Review Notable Book, and a Daily Beast "Top 11 Book of 2012"

A masterpiece of science reporting that tracks the animal origins of emerging human diseases.

The emergence of strange new diseases is a frightening problem that seems to be getting worse. In this age of speedy travel, it threatens a worldwide pandemic. We hear news reports of Ebola, SARS, AIDS, and something called Hendra killing horses and people in Australia—but those reports miss the big truth that such phenomena are part of a single pattern. The bugs that transmit these diseases share one thing: they originate in wild animals and pass to humans by a process called spillover. David Quammen tracks this subject around the world. He recounts adventures in the field—netting bats in China, trapping monkeys in Bangladesh, stalking gorillas in the Congo—with the world’s leading disease scientists. In Spillover Quammen takes the reader along on this astonishing quest to learn how, where from, and why these diseases emerge, and he asks the terrifying question: What might the next big one be?

(Emphais added)

http://www.amazon.com/Spillover-Ani...animal+infections+and+the+next+human+pandemic

 

[Garryowen]

Have you read the book? If so, do you have some insights that will help us avoid infection? It does seem like we are hearing more about such things recently.

 

[FarmerJohn]

Yes, I've read the book. It's very readable, even "entertaining" but not particularly encouraging about our ability to avoid the NBO. Not eating "monkey meat," not shopping in the "wet markets" of South China might help but if an organism has developed the tools that it needs to easily transfer from human-to-human that won't be helpful.

It's probably a good idea to have a lot of preps at home, know how to wash hands frequently and avoid crowds when the NBO is going around.

Good luck!

 

[FarmerJohn]

H7N9 Casw with no known poultry contact in Taiwan

As investigations continue into the possible sources of infection [from H7N9 influenza], Fukuda warned that authorities were still struggling to understand the virus. The WHO said China must brace for continued infections.

Fukuda's warning came as Taiwanese health authorities said they've confirmed the first human case of H7N9 in Taiwan -- one they said was imported from China.

A 53-year-old Taiwanese man who worked in eastern China was confirmed to have H7N9 on Wednesday, the Taiwanese Centers for Disease Control said. His condition was described to be severe.

He had been traveling back and forth regularly between China's Jingsu province and Taiwan, health officials said.

"According to the case, he had not been exposed to birds and poultry during his stay in Suzhou (in Jingsu province) and had not consumed undercooked poultry or eggs," the Taiwanese CDC said.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/24/world/asia/china-birdflu/index.html?hpt=hp_t3