Description: In this book, Oldstone focuses on several of the most famous viruses humanity has battled. He begins with some we have effectively defeated, such as smallpox, polio, measles, and yellow fever, then describes the frightening viruses that have captured headlines in more recent years: Ebola and other hemorrhagic fevers, Hantavirus, mad cow disease, and, of course, AIDS. He goes on to tell 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 -- will make a comeback. Viruses 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 longstanding conflict with our unseen viral enemies, from our successes to our continuing struggles. The book is a vivid history of a fascinating field, and a highly reliable dispatch from a worker on the frontiers of this ongoing campaign.

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