The Gale Encyclopedia of Emerging Diseases

Originally published in 2018, this second edition includes updated diseases (COVID, monkeypox) and stronger connections between hosts and diseases. There are 145 entries—some as short as four pages; others as long as 12—that range from measles and the Zika virus to pandemics, water and sanitation, and emerging plant diseases. Their prevention, risk factors, causes, symptoms, tests, treatments, and prognosis are also described. Editors/contributors who are medical professionals or science writers note diseases’ epidemiology, environment, habitat, zoology, and humanity. Common diseases such as obesity and diabetes are included due to their increasing frequency. All entries include definitions, descriptions, demographics, public health responsibility, sidebars (key terms, questions to ask, viewpoints), bibliographies, and illustrations. There’s also a “See Also” references section, plus the editors took great care to incorporate discussions about history, solutions, legal issues, international efforts, education, and future outlooks. The five-page “Organizations” section includes websites, email addresses, a glossary, and a detailed index. Librarians should note that a majority of similar titles were published before 2020 or focus on specific diseases or body systems.