A journey through the history and science of epidemics and pandemics – from measles to coronavirus.

For centuries mankind has waged war against the infections that, left untreated, would have the power to wipe out communities, or even entire populations. Yet for all our advanced scientific knowledge, only one human disease – smallpox – has ever been eradicated globally. In recent years, outbreaks of Ebola and Zika have provided vivid examples of how difficult it is to contain an infection once it strikes, and the panic that a rapidly spreading epidemic can ignite.

But while we chase the diseases we are already aware of, new ones are constantly emerging, like the coronavirus that spread across the world in 2020. At the same time, anti-microbial resistance is harnessing infections that we once knew how to control, enabling them to thrive once more.

Meera Senthilingam presents a timely look at humanity’s ongoing battle against infection, examining the successes and failures of the past, along with how we are confronting the challenges of today, and our chances of eradicating disease in the future.

A NEW EYE-OPENING ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF MEERA SENTHILINGAM'S TIMELY GUIDE For decades scientists have been warning of a global pandemic, and the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak has realised their worst fears. Covid-19 and monkeypox make Outbreaks & Pandemics an essential guide to the future. It narrates a disquieting journey through the history, science, and politics of humankind's ongoing war against contagion; investigates modern responses; and assesses the chances of eradicating disease in the future. it also reveals how globalisation, mobile populations, climate change, vaccine hesitancy, and drug-resistant pathogens have combined to create the perfect conditions for pandemics to spread. This updated and illustrated edition is essential reading, combining extensive research with illuminating photographs and infographics to chart the pattern of outbreaks and reveal the microscopic world at their heart.