Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs

In the wake of recent outbreaks, including Ebola, MERS, and Zika, it seems important to be more aware of diseases and how they spread in order to combat hysteria. Coauthors Osterholm (McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair, public health, Univ. of Minnesota) and Olshaker, a documentary filmmaker, argue that whatever can be done to prevent the spread of these infectious diseases must be done, and that it is far more important to be proactive rather than reactive when fighting such illnesses. Diseases are also discussed in terms of how they are spread, whether it's through the water supply or by pests such as mosquitoes. An entire educational chapter about mosquitoes and their role in the advancement of several major diseases is informative. This book covers both ancient and recent epidemics throughout the world, using real cases from history and Osterholm's own experiences as examples to illustrate his point. Some illnesses are expected, including the aforementioned Zika, and others less so, including a very interesting chapter on Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) that sheds light on the tampon industry and just how dangerous TSS can be.