This book presents an in-depth investigation of 12 pandemics that have wreaked devastation across the world over the last 700 years, including the bubonic plague, syphilis, yellow fever, leprosy, smallpox, cholera, polio, measles, tuberculosis, influenza, HIV/AIDS, and Covid-19 and coronaviruses.

How many pandemics have there been recently? Where do pandemics come from? How long do pandemics last? How do governments respond? Do pandemics all follow the same pattern of rapid global spread followed by repeated outbreaks? When and how do pandemics end?

In addressing these questions, this book reveals the diversity of the origins of pandemics and the variety of ways in which they spread globally. Importantly, it demonstrates that central to the emergence and spread of pandemics is the structure and organisation of human societies and the ways in which they respond to disease outbreaks. This book is an essential resource for students in epidemiology, global health, public health and medicine, as well as anyone interested in how diseases spread and the history of medicine.

Synthesises evidence to reveal the common elements and major differences between 12 major pandemics Highlights the many challenges that have historically been faced when trying to control pandemics Written in an engaging style, with a glossary and references for those who wish to explore the sources in more detail

Autorentext

Iain K Crombie is an Emeritus Professor of Public Health at Dundee University, UK, with expertise in epidemiology, statistics and molecular biology. He has had a productive research career in public health and epidemiology, publishing 170 research papers and securing research funding of over £6 million.

Inhalt

1: Introduction.- 2: The Black Death.- 3: Syphilis.- 4: Yellow fever.- 5: Leprosy.- 6: Smallpox.- 7: Cholera.- 8: Polio.- 9: Measles.- 10: Tuberculosis.- 11: Influenza.- 12: HIV/AIDS.- 13: Covid 19 and coronaviruses.- 14: Summing up: how pandemics begin, spread globally and end.