Ebola The natural and human history of a deadly virus

This title is essentially a verbatim excerpt from the sections on Ebola and Marburg viruses in Quammen's previous publication, Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic (CH, May'13, 50-5030). Though a few minor editorial changes and remarks made in the text reflect circumstances associated with the current Ebola crisis in West Africa, these do not substantially alter the original text. The only significant addition is a seven-page epilogue, which places the ongoing epidemic in perspective. Quammen, an award-winning author and journalist, presents an excellent historical account of the emergence of Ebola across Africa. It is a well-researched and well-written book. Major outbreaks of Ebola and the closely related Marburg virus are discussed, and many of the medical investigators who devote their professional careers-and sometimes their lives-to unraveling the mysteries of emerging viral diseases are individually showcased. He outlines what is known about the disease ecology of Ebola and important pieces of the disease puzzle yet to be solved. This book will appeal to a wide range of readers. Those who have not previously read Spillover but want to learn more about Ebola will find much to interest them here. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. --Danny A. Brass, independent scholar

Award-winning science writer Quammen explained how infectious diseases spread from animals to humans in Spillover (2012). In this small volume the author takes the material about Ebola virus from that book and adds introductory material and an epilog to update it. He explains how the current outbreaks in Africa began and how the disease traveled to other countries despite that it is not airborne. He also discusses the political, economic, and social factors that make it difficult to control the disease. Because the virus mutates rapidly, it could potentially adapt and become more transmissible as well. Quammen's work takes readers on an African adventure that will keep them turning pages while making the science easy to understand. Readers interested in health and science as well as those who enjoy armchair travel will enjoy the book. Verdict A wonderful antidote to the fear-mongering news stories about Ebola.-Barbara Bibel, Oakland P.L. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.