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J Community Health (2014) 39:191192 DOI 10.1007/s10900-013-9801-y
REVIEW
Alexandra M. Levitt: Deadly OutbreaksHow Medical Detectives Save Lives Threatened by Killer Pandemics, Exotic Viruses, and Drug-Resistant Parasites
Skyhorse Publishing, New York, 2013, 222 pp, Hard cover, Illustrated, $24.95
Avrahom A. Gurwitz Pascal James Imperato
Published online: 3 December 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
Abstract Emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases represent a major threat to global health. This article discusses a number of such outbreaks that are described in a recently published book authored by Alexandra M. Levitt.
Keywords Emerging infections Re-emerging
infections Pandemics Epidemiogists
This well crafted and fascinating volume chronicles the scientic adventures of numerous eld epidemiologists as they sought to unravel what at rst appeared to be enigmatic disease outbreaks and medical events. The seven case studies in this book are recounted by a master word-smith who is also an expert on emerging diseases. She brings to each account a clear vision of the existing and complex world of disease detection and of the challenges and frustrations eld epidemiologists often encounter when rst presented with the unknown. She also demonstrates in each of the case studies how ingenuity, insights, determination, and the application of epidemiologic analyses to data and evidence sweep aside anecdotal impressions along investigative paths that vary from one outbreak to another.
The case studies presented here include West Nile Virus infection, multi-drug resistant malaria, possible infanticide in a hospital, Legionnaires disease, salmonellosis due to contaminated ice cream, progressive inammatory neuropathy in slaughterhouse workers, and Hantavirus infection in New Mexico. These selections provide a balanced view of current emerging disease problems including zoonotic...