When Germs Travel: Six Major Epidemics That Have Invaded America and the Fears They Have Unleashed
Howard Markel
Aug 2021 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Steven Jay Cohen
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8 hr 37 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
The struggle against deadly microbes is endless. Diseases that have plagued human beings since ancient times still exist, new maladies make their way into the headlines, we are faced with vaccine shortages, and the threat of germ warfare has reemerged as a worldwide threat. In this riveting account, medical historian Howard Markel takes an eye-opening look at the fragility of the American public health system. He tells the distinctive stories of six epidemics-tuberculosis, bubonic plague, trachoma, typhus, cholera, and AIDS-to show how our chief defense against diseases from outside the United States has been to attempt to deny entry to carriers. He explains why this approach never worked, and makes clear that it is useless in today's world of bustling international travel and porous borders. Illuminating our foolhardy attempts at isolation and showing that globalization renders us all potential inhabitants of the so-called Hot Zone, Markel makes a compelling case for a globally funded public health program that could stop the spread of epidemics and safeguard the health of everyone on the planet.
About the author
Over the past forty years, Howard Markel has practiced pediatrics and taught medical history at Johns Hopkins and University of Michigan. He is the award-winning author or editor of many books, including, most recently, The Secret of Life. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Steven Jay Cohen has been telling stories his whole life, and has worked professionally as a storyteller since 1991. A classically trained actor, he has worked both on stage and behind the microphone for most of his career. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Steven now resides in scenic western Massachusetts.
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