How scientists saved humanity from the deadliest infectious diseases—and what we can do to prepare ourselves for future epidemics. After the unprecedented events of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be hard to imagine a time not so long ago when deadly diseases were a routine part of life. It is harder still to fathom that the best medical thinking at that time blamed these diseases on noxious miasmas, bodily humors, and divine dyspepsia. This all began to change on a day in April 1676, when a little-known Dutch merchant described bacteria for the first time. Beginning on that day in Delft and ending on the day in 1978 when the smallpox virus claimed its last known victim, Ending Epidemics explains how we came to understand and prevent many of our worst infectious diseases—and double average life expectancy. Ending Epidemics tells the story behind “the mortality revolution,” the dramatic transformation not just in our longevity, but in the character of childhood, family life, and human society. Richard Conniff recounts the moments of inspiration and innovation, decades of dogged persistence, and, of course, periods of terrible suffering that stir individuals, institutions, and governments to act in the name of public health. Stars of medical science feature in this drama, but lesser-known figures also play a critical role. And while the history of germ theory is central to this story, Ending Epidemics also describes the importance of everything from sanitation improvements and the discovery of antibiotics to the development of the microscope and the syringe—technologies we now take for granted.

A physician-anthropologist explores how public health practices--from epidemiological modeling to outbreak containment--help perpetuate global inequities. In Epidemic Illusions, Eugene Richardson, a physician and an anthropologist, contends that public health practices--from epidemiological modeling and outbreak containment to Big Data and causal inference--play an essential role in perpetuating a range of global inequities. Drawing on postcolonial theory, medical anthropology, and critical science studies, Richardson demonstrates the ways in which the flagship discipline of epidemiology has been shaped by the colonial, racist, and patriarchal system that had its inception in 1492. Deploying a range of rhetorical tools and drawing on his clinical work in a variety of epidemics, including Ebola in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, leishmania in the Sudan, HIV/TB in southern Africa, diphtheria in Bangladesh, and SARS-CoV-2 in the United States, Richardson concludes that the biggest epidemic we currently face is an epidemic of illusions—one that is propagated by the coloniality of knowledge production.

In this "must-read" guide (Lonnie Ali), four leading doctors and advocates offer a bold action plan to prevent, care for, and treat Parkinson's disease-one of the great health challenges of our time. Brain diseases are now the world's leading source of disability. The fastest growing of these is Parkinson's: the number of impacted patients has doubled to more than six million over the last twenty-five years and is projected to double again by 2040. Harmful pesticides that increase the risk of Parkinson's continue to proliferate, many people remain undiagnosed and untreated, research funding stagnates, and the most effective treatment is now a half century old. In Ending Parkinson's Disease, four top experts provide a plan to help prevent Parkinson's, improve care and treatment, and end the silence associated with this devastating disease.

Outlines recommendations for preventing the next global pandemic, drawing on the examples of epidemics ranging from smallpox and AIDS to SARS and Ebola to outline specific measures for appropriate spending, communication, and innovation. --Publisher.

An outbreak of a new, deadly, highly contagious virus was inevitable. An explosive global pandemic was not inevitable. There is hope. It’s the dystopian nightmare pandemic experts have warned about. But it’s happening right now. Covid-19 has catapulted us into a science fiction scenario – now our lived reality across the globe. Seemingly overnight, literally billions of people around the globe have had their lives upended by fear, uncertainty, bankruptcy, illness or death. At home we ask: when can I hug grandma again? Will the job I've been preparing for even exist when covid-19 has passed? Will the business I built with sweat ever re-open? When can we safely travel abroad – or even to some parts of our own country? Will everyday life ever go back to normal? When will we have a vaccine? Experts ask not whether suicides will increase, children will die from disrupted immunization programs, people will starve from broken food systems, or families will be pushed into poverty – but how many will suffer these and other consequences the pandemic. Boiled up from the blood of a bat in rural China, the novel coronavirus has scourged every continent except Antarctica, and every major city – from Sydney to Stockholm, new York to Nairobi, Moscow to Miami, and brasilia to Bangkok. By the time the pandemic has passed, covid-19 will have killed hundreds of thousands of people, sickened millions of people, upended the lives of tens of millions, and cost the global economy trillions of dollars. In the end of epidemics, leading public health authority Dr Jonathan br>D quick tells the stories of the heroes, past and present, who have succeeded in their fights to stop the spread of illness and death. He explains the science and the politics of Combatting epidemics. And he provides a detailed seven-part plan showing exactly how world leaders, health professionals, the business community, media, and ordinary citizens can work together to prevent epidemics, saving millions of lives.

The mastery of certain skills can only help students succeed in all areas of life, no matter what they do or where they do it. The toll that epidemics take, in terms of human life and economic stability, is monumental. The consequences when disease spreads are frequently as catastrophic as those wrought by wars and natural disasters. By dissecting the nature of epidemics and highlighting rampant diseases past and present, this book familiarizes readers with the dangers inherent in this looming health crisis. Discussion of personal steps students can take to help stem disease and what the future may hold are also included.

This guidance is an update of WHO global influenza preparedness plan: the role of WHO and recommendations for national measures before and during pandemics, published March 2005 (WHO/CDS/CSR/GIP/2005.5).