Product Description

When we think of plagues, we think of AIDS, Ebola, anthrax spores, and, of course, the Black Death. But in 1918 the Great Flu Epidemic killed an estimated 40 million people virtually overnight. If such a plague returned today, taking a comparable percentage of the U.S. population with it, 1.5 million Americans would die.

In Flu, Gina Kolata, an acclaimed reporter for The New York Times, unravels the mystery of this lethal virus with the high drama of a great adventure story. From Alaska to Norway, from the streets of Hong Kong to the corridors of the White House, Kolata tracks the race to recover the live pathogen and probes the fear that has impelled government policy.

A gripping work of science writing, Flu addresses the prospects for a great epidemic's recurrence and considers what can be done to prevent it.Amazon.com Review
Feeling tired, achy, and congested?You'll hope not afterreading science writer Gina Kolata's engrossing Flu, afascinating look at the 1918 epidemic that wiped out around 40 millionpeople in less than a year and afflicted more than one of every fourAmericans.This tragedy, just on the heels of World War I and farmore deadly, so traumatized the survivors that few would talk about itafterward.Kolata reports on the scientific investigation of thisbizarre outbreak, in particular the attempts to sequence the virus'DNA from tissue samples of victims.She also looks at the social andpersonal effects of the disease, from improved public health awarenessto the loss of productivity. (The disease affected 20- to 40-year-oldsdisproportionately.)

How could this disease, now almost trivial tohealthy young people, have become so virulent?The answer is complex,invoking epidemiology, immunology, and even psychology, but Kolatacuts a swath through medical papers and statistical reports to tell astory of an out-of-control virus exploiting an exhausted world on thebrink of transition into modern society.Through letters, interviews,and news reports, she pieces together a cautionary tale that capturesthe horror of a devastating illness.Research marches onward, butwe're still at the mercy of something as simple as the flu. --RobLightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (133)

For the Scientifically-Inclined Reader
Any book that deals with the most deadly epidemic in the known history of mankind (the 1918 flu killed more people even than the Black Death of medieval times) has got to be interesting.And this one is, although it might not be for everybody.

It has a journalistic style of writing, and it focuses strongly on the science of the virus rather than the human experience of the epidemic.So this is a book that would appeal more to scientifically-inclined readers.(For the human interest side of the epidemic, I recommend the novel The Last Town on Earth, by Thomas Mullen.)

For me, the whole book was interesting.(I should probably mention that I am a microbiologist, though.)I was especially fascinated by the attempt to recover the virus and/or its RNA from the frozen bodies of flu victims buried in the Arctic.One scientist returned 50 years later (after his initial failed attempt to recover live virus) to look for RNA once technology had made genetic sequencing possible.The story of his race (almost single-handedly and funded out of his own pocket) against a large, highly-publicized and generously-funded, expedition was so tense and full of suspense that I couldn't put the book down during that section.

I was also interested to realized that the 1918 virus was H1N1, the same kind as the current epidemic, which has not returned on a large scale since 1946.(And I was thankful that I didn't read the book until well into the current epidemic, after it was announced that the disease is much milder than expected, maybe even less severe than the usual seasonal flu.Otherwise it would have been really scary to think that the 1918 flu was back!)No one knows why the 1918 epidemic was so much more deadly than flu normally is, or why it is now (and in 1946) so much less virulent than it was then.The usual frequent mutations of the influenza viruses is not enough to explain either of these questions.That is part of the mystery and the ongoing research to learn more about this virus.

(Note that this book was published in 1999, so it is somewhat out of date.The current theory now about the deadliness of the 1918 epidemic is that most deaths were due to a cytokine storm - an overreaction of the body's immune system.But why did that happen so often then, and not now?)

I also enjoyed reading about how the virus was traced to its origin.

The book includes a section of wonderful black and white photographs, many historical.

I did discover an error on page 303, which appears to be a typographical error rather than a scientific one.It reads, "If interferon was the body's antivirus missile, interferon was the virus's antiballistic missile."I believe the author intended to say, "If interferon was the body's antivirus missile, the NS1 protein was the virus's antiballistic missile."

Quote from Flu:

"As the second decade of the twentieth century wound to a close, the memory of a world stalked by infectious disease had dimmed.People had become complacent, almost smug, about disease and death.It was a time when death had nearly lost its sting, an era when the miracles of medicine were portrayed as almost a new religion.And it was a time when death became separate from everyday life.The Ladies' Home Journal proudly declared that the parlor, where the dead had been laid out for viewing, was now to be called "the living room," a room for the living, not the dead."

(303 pages)

Spain flu pandemics of 1918
The book is wtitten by scientific journalist and describes the pandemic of 1918 Influenza and the history of discovering it's cause

Flu by Gina Kolata
I have found this book to be fascinating.It shows just how cyclical these pandemics are, and helps to explain clearly why certain parts of the population are not affected by it when it hits.It is far from being a dry read, and shows just how much more work we need to do to contain and prevent these types of outbreaks.I highly recommend it.

The Long Shadow of 1918
Gina Kolata's telling of the story of the 1918 influenza pandemic reveals how modern medicine, basking in the success that the new germ theory of disease had brought, was utterly unprepared for, and therefore completely helpless in the face of, the pandemic that ravaged the world.This flu was unlike any flu encountered before:it was 25 times more lethal than ordinary influenzas, killing 2.5 percent of its victims, in contrast to the normally observed 0.1 percent mortality.Worldwide, possibly 50 million people died.That the pandemic was caused by a virus was discovered in the 1930's; yet scientists remained troubled by their lack of understanding of the virus, where it came from, and what made it so lethal.They realized the only way they would solve the mystery was to somehow obtain the actual 1918 influenza virus itself.

Enter Johan Hultin, in 1951 a 26-year-old Swedish postgraduate student studying in the United States.In 1936 scientists had learned how to grow influenza viruses in fertilized hen's eggs, and Hultin decided to attempt to retrieve the 1918 flu virus from victims who had been buried up north in permafrost and whose bodies were therefore well preserved.By growing it up scientists would be able to study it, perhaps learn what made it so deadly, and make a vaccine so that there would never be a repeat of 1918.He was able to obtain some specimens from a burial site in a tiny Alaskan village called Brevig, but he was unable to grow it.It seemed that, for the time being, he was at a dead end.

The 1976 swine flu episode in the United States demonstrated how the long shadow of 1918 could still influence the objectivity of scientists, how despite the huge gains made in virology in the intervening years, the lack of hard data about the Spanish Flu virus would allow fear to tip the balance in the question of a nation-wide vaccination program.Though in hindsight we know it turned into an expensive fiasco and a nightmare of litigation, Kolata is reserved in her criticism:"For even now, more than two decades later, it is not clear that the scientists had much choice in their decisions or that, if they had to do it over again, they would make radically different decisions."Indeed, the argument for vaccination was persuasive:first, there was evidence of a new flu strain with man-to-man transmission; second, always before when a new strain was found there was a subsequent pandemic.

Possibly, in retrospect, better judgment would have prevailed if an answer to a simple question would have been required of the scientific advisors:what information might make the group change its mind about the need to prepare to immunize the nation against swine flu?Would it be evidence that every swine flu case was mild?Or that no one but the Fort Dix soldiers (where the only fatality occurred) got the swine flu?Because in the end, the decision was made to vaccinate everyone for a disease that no one could prove to even exist.It was, then, the metaphor of 1918, the "vivid images rooted in folk history", rather than hard science, that drove the decision.So the lesson from 1976 was that if a new virus appears, you shouldn't jump the gun and assume a pandemic is happening.

More recently science has made headway in tackling some of the biggest questions remaining from 1918, including why the age group usually best able to resist serious infection, people aged 20 to 40, in this case suffered the highest rates of mortality (along with the very young and very old).One theory is that a viral strain similar to, but less lethal than, the 1918 strain, circulated the world in the late 1800's so that those above 40 years old would have had some immunity to the 1918 strain, but those below 40 would have been completed blindsided by the new virus.Another theory is that the virus killed by inducing something called a "cytokine storm" which is a potentially fatal over-reaction by the immune system.Those most susceptible to cytokine storm would be those with the most vigorous immune systems, namely adults between 20 and 40.

Johan Hultin's part in the story was by no means over in 1951.He went on to a successful career as a pathologist, but never forgot about his burning desire to be a part of solving the Spanish flu mystery.As the years passed he observed the development of molecular biology techniques, and with the advent of PCR, he knew that the time had come for a repeat visit to Brevig.After obtaining the cooperation of a molecular biologist, Dr. Jeffrey Taubenberger, in 1997 he returned to Brevig, a self-funded, solitary trip done in utter secrecy.He was successful in finding specimens from one more well-preserved body.In addition to this specimen, Taubenberger's team had located in a medical storage warehouse, lung specimens from two soldiers who had died from the 1918 flu.Using PCR, they were able initially to sequence the hemagglutinin gene from each of the three, and by 2005, the whole genome of the virus.We can now say that the Spanish Flu was caused by an avian strain of H1N1.

However, despite all the increases in knowledge since 1918, the scientific community is divided as to our capacity to handle a similar outbreak today.Some are confident that because of the surveillance we now have, combined with new antiviral drugs like Tamiflu, and the potential for vaccines, we will never have a repeat of 1918.But others are far less optimistic, suggesting that even a best-case scenario would have 20 million deaths worldwide, while a worst-case scenario would have a death toll exceeding that of 1918.As the 2009 "Swine Flu" pandemic continues on through the summer and the autumn flu season approaches, this admitted uncertainty gives little confidence to observers such as myself.

FLU the mystery of H1N1
This book is the best analytical overview of the search for the cause of the 1918 / 19 influenza pandemic that I have ever read. It is written like a criminal 'who did it' but the facts are stranger than fiction. With the world now facing the outbreak of the potentially deadly H1N1 influenza virus again it is a very timely reminder of how it develops. Initially midly then it mutates and then be prepared for a very nasty experience. A most readable book that is all fact. ... Read more

Product Description
Monk is horrified when he learns there's going to be a blue fluin San Francisco-until Capt. Stottlemeyer explains that it just means the police plan to call in "sick" until they get a better contract.The good news is the labor dispute will give Monk a chance to get back on the force.The bad news is it means he'll be a "scab"-and he doesn't like the sound of that either.

But before he knows it, Monk has his badge back, and his own squad to command. Unfortunately, some of the squad members make Monk look like a paragon of mental health. But despite the challenges, they'll have to pull together to catch an astrologer's killer, solve a series of mysterious fatal assaults, and most importantly, clean up their desks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

better than most of the other books in this series
These are moderately entertaining book versions of the Monk series. The author, Lee Goldberg, is competent and easy to follow, but no Rex Stout. This particular volume strikes me as better than the others that I've read. The situation, with Monk as temporary Captain of Homicide during a "blue flu", is promising, especially because it sets up a problem for the hero (being a scab) that seems as if it will be difficult to resolve.

Not a Review, an Important Author's Note
The following author's note will be appearing in future editions of this book:

"The story you are about to read shares some of the same plot elements
and situations as the eighth season TV episode "Mr. Monk and the
Badge," which was produced nearly three years after this novel was
written and published. So if you saw that episode before reading this
book, you may experience some deja vu. If so, Monk recommends that you
clean your bathroom. That will not only restore your balance, but the
natural balance of the universe."

never a dull moment reading


As if from the television series, this is a book that is in true Monk set up, a funny detective story.

great book
watch the show ,but the book is a real page turner.kind of hard to follow this is not for dumb people(people who watch friends)

Get this book.You'll thank Lee Goldberg later.
Lee Goldberg is the master of the Monk novels.All of them are entertaining, fun reads.He nails the show's characters and brings them to life on the pages of his books.

In MR. MONK AND THE BLUE FLU, Mr. Goldberg introduces us to a full team of characters that not only hold their own against the Monk crew, but show us the depth of Goldberg's creativity and humor.Imagine the Island of Misfit Toys and Barney Miller's 12th Precinct being dropped into the cosmic blender.The result would be a dysfunctional, quirky mix of detectives with comedic results.That's exactly what Goldberg delivers in BLUE FLU.

Get this book.And while you're at it, get the rest in the series.You'll thank Lee Goldberg later.
... Read more

Product Description
Ka-choo! Who's sneezing? It's the cow, the chickens, the pigs, the turkeys, the donkey and the sheep! All the farm animals have the flu, and Mom is out of town. Luckily, her son knows just what his mom would do, if it were he who had the flu! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fun to read!!
My son demands that I read him lots of books and it always makes me happy when he picks this one out. Its great fun to read. I think I enjoy it more than he does. You can really get into the rhyme and rhythm trying new ways each time you read it. The story is funny as well. I've probably read it a hundred times and haven't gotten sick of it yet.

Farm Flu Review
Farm Flu is a sweet little book about a boy and his sickly livestock. I think that the rhyme is good, but the story is even better. And how charming is the repeated text "I know just what my mom would do / if it were me who had the flu."? My little son requests this book a LOT, and I am only too happy to oblige him. ... Read more

Product Description
The flu pandemic that began in 1918 touched with illness virtually every family in America. It was a devastating time, far overshadowing the carnage of World War I as the pandemic killed more people in less time than any disease before or since. With 25% to 30% of the worlds population having clinically apparent illnesses and a mortality rate of 2.5% - 5%, it is believed that more than 675,000 Americans were among the 50-100 million that died worldwide. Because many experts believe that it is not a matter of if the world will encounter another 1918-like flu pandemic, but when, this social history of the pandemic should be considered essential reading for students, public health officials, doctors, nurses, journalists, and those in government office, interested in learning what workedand didntduring that grim time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Well prepared report on the American experience during the 1918-20 flu pandemic
Previous reviewers have already presented very competent overviews of the contents of Pettit and Bailie's introduction to the horrific influenza pandemic that overwhelmed medical knowledge and American resources beginning in spring of 1918.The book is clearly written and coherently presented.The style might be considered a sort of relaxed academic prose; easy to read and assimilate, yet, perhaps, not as enlivening as some readers might prefer.

For anyone unfamiliar with the enveloping tide of the 1918 pandemic, this work provides a balanced overview of the enormous difficulties involved for those trying to stop or ameliorate the suffering, of a number of consequences of that suffering, of the nature of the disease and its likely recurrence; all related within a broad historical snapshot of an American society brought to its knees by disease just as WW I was ending.

The well researched story unfolds chronologically and includes numerous anecdotes which offer an interesting variety of the human details.But, with a few well developed historical and scientific issues left unanswered, and due to its topical nature as a survey, the book leaves a feeling of incompleteness in the end.

This is the second book I've read on the subject.I certainly respect this offering much more than the repetitious, overly-dramatized, 'popular' treatment I earlier reviewed.As an introduction to the pandemic, this intelligently conceived book is recommended for most readers.

The Not So Forgotten Epidemic
The global influenza pandemic of 1918-1920, which epidemiologists estimate was responsible for the deaths of between 50-100 million people worldwide, was one of the most deadly events in human history. More people died during the pandemic, which lasted a little over two years, than during all four-years of the Black Death (although the world population was by 1918 far larger than during the Middle Ages).Arriving during the closing phase of World War I, the pandemic had a significant impact on mobilized national armies. Half of U.S. soldiers who died in the "Great War," were victims of influenza not of enemy bombs and bullets. It is estimated that almost ¾ of a million Americans died during the pandemic.The impact of the epidemic was so harsh that the average life span in the U.S. fell by 10 years in the second decade of the 20th century.Among those struck was President Woodrow Wilson, who became ill early in 1919 while in Versailles negotiating the treaty to end the world war. As noted in a letter from Wilson's physician included in the book:

"The President was taken violently sick last Thursday. The attack was very sudden.At three o'clock he was apparently all right; at six he
was seized with violent paroxysms of coughing, which were so severe
and frequent that it interfered with his breathing" (p. 171).

Notably, the pandemic was truly global in its impact, showing up in almost all heavily populated areas but in sparely populated Arctic settlements and in remote Pacific islands as well.In this respect, the pandemic exposed the early stages of the most recent wave of globalism and its reconstruction of the modern world as a socially smaller more integrated place.

Although it has been called the "forgotten pandemic," publication of A Cruel Wind: Pandemic Flu in America is one of a number a number of signs that the pandemic of 1918-1920, is once again on people's minds.The reason for this is not obscure. With AIDS, SARS, and many other new infectious diseases in the news, the whole issue of contagions, old and new, has become a topic of widespread concern and interest.Especially for those who are fascinated by the intersection of disease and history, and the impact of disease on society, Dorthy Pettit and Janice Bailie's book will be a fascinating read.

The book, which tells the tale of the influenza pandemic in full historic and biological detail, is introduced by way of a series of riddles (actually uncertainties about the nature of the pandemic), many of which are still unresolved, including just what caused the dramatic impact and unique expressions of the so-called Spanish influenza, which was the number one public health problem just before the take off of the roaring twenties (which contained an exuberance that might well be read as a national celebration that pandemic was finally over).The pandemic came without warning, took an enormous toll, disproportionately killed people in the prime of life, caused prolong illness, and even among survivors left enduring after-affects.Moreover, it was not solely humans who were victims.Pigs and many other animals also got sick.

As the authors of this book make clear, an important part of the death toll was caused by viral pneumonia characterized by extensive bleeding in the lungs resulting in suffocation. Many victims died within 48 hours of the appearance of the first symptoms. In fact, it was not uncommon for people who appeared to be quite healthy in the morning to have perished by sunset.Even before the pandemic, researchers were confused about what caused the grippe, as the disease was then known. Some thought that the source might be a bacterial infection.At the time, virology had not emerged as a discipline but bacteriology was already a flourishing field.Ultimately, it was confirmed that the pandemic was caused by a virus, specifically influenza A virus of the H1N1 subtype Yet among people who survived the first several days of viral infection, many subsequently died of secondary conditions.Most notable was bacterial pneumonia, and it was this adverse interaction of two different diseases that made the pandemic so deadly, and from the perspective of both history and the future of human health (which, because of global warming and the movement of old diseases to new places) something there is tremendous need to understand better.While questions remain, this book helps to gain a much better understanding of just what happened 90 years ago in the biosocial world of human disease that still holds important lessons for us today.

Pandemic Influenza: Can it happen again?
A Cruel Wind: Pandemic Flu in America, 1918-1920,
Dorothy Pettit, Ph.D, and Janice Bailie,Ph.D., Timberlane Press, 2007
Reviewer: Chris Holmes, M.D., M.S.P.H.

Why should we worry about the flu? It's just a minor, 3-day illness, right? Well, not exactly. For 15% of the world's citizens (500,000 U.S.) who get sick from it each year, or the 250-300,000 (30,000 U.S.) who die from it, it's not "minor." Nor is its economic impact: $167 billion annually in the U.S., which includes the cost of 70 million doses of vaccine. If you multiply these numbers by about 200, you approach the rates for the 1918 pandemic. So maybe we should be a little worried.

In this well written and thoroughly researched book, the authors -- a biochemist and an historian -- trace in detail the American course of this outbreak and its impact on every aspect of U.S. life: economic, political, military and public health. Even the entertainment industry was affected: movie theaters closed, stages darkened. The epidemic also highlighted America's woefully inadequate health care system. The book's numerous illustrations, tables and figures, and extensive references and bibliography ground, illuminate and clarify the viral and historical concepts.

The story begins with a review of basic influenza virology and immunologic classification. The concepts of antigen drift (minor surface antigen changes requiring a new vaccine annually) and antigen shift (major, 10 year-or-so changes which signal the start of pandemics like the 1957 Asian flu (2 million deaths worldwide) and the 1968 Hong Kong flu (700,000 deaths).

The authors then confront several vexing questions about the 1918 pandemic: First, where did it originate. Two competing theories have emerged: that it spontaneously erupted in Europe, Asia and North America; or it began in U.S. Army recruit camps in Kansas then spread to Europe as soldiers headed for WW I. Neither theory emerges a winner. But it seems plausible, wherever it began, that this particular strain also infected animals (swine).Another intriguing question is why this epidemic was so deadly (mortality close to 30% overall), especially in healthy young adults (50% mortalty in 20-40 year-olds). The authors find no definitive answer to this question either, though they examine all sides clearly.

Finally come the most important questions: How likely is the 1918 outbreak to happen again? And are we prepared for it if it does. The Influenza virus can cross the species barrier (as it appears to have done in 1918), and in 2006-2007 275 human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) were documented in Asia, a majority in Thailand. The great worry is that if a human host is infected with both the H5N1strain and a human influenza strain at the same time, he or she could become a mixing bowl for the reassortment and emergence of a new, deadly strain. That thought should scare the collective pants off us!

I highly recommend this book to students and researchers interested in the history of medicine and science, to practitioners and academic professionals (including university and public libraries) in medicine, nursing, public health and infectious disease, as well as to the general interested reader. There is no better example than this book of why we must learn history or are doomed to repeat it.

A well-written social history of the horrific flu pandemic that killed almost 700,000 Americans between 1918 and 1920...
A careful, well-written and thoroughly documented academic study of the flu pandemic that ravaged America from 1918 to 1920. Includes numerous illustrations, tables and photographs, chapter notes, an extensive classified bibliography, and an excellent index.

Taking a much-different approach than the several other books available on the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, the authors -- Pettit, a former Medical Technologist with a Ph.D. in American History, and Bailie, holding a Ph.D. in Biochemistry -- take a "social history" approach and weave the stories of individuals who lived and died during this harrowing time, in with informed scientific discussion of the virus and clinical perspectives of the healthcare professionals who tried to save them.

The numbers are shocking -- Pettit and Bailie cite pandemic influenza data indicating that "25%-30% of the world's population" had "clinically apparent illnesses" with a resulting "mortality rate of 2.5 % to 5 %." And, though the pandemic is usually only briefly mentioned in -- or, often even left out of many world and/or American history books -- it was truly a catastrophic event. The authors estimate that somewhere between 50,000,000 and 100,000,000 people died of this particular, virulent strain of the flu worldwide during those two years.

In the opening chapter, "The Riddle of Influenza," we're introduced to the distinguished neurosurgeon, Harvey Cushing, of Johns Hopkins University, who describes his battles with influenza in 1906 and 1918. The authors then discuss how the virus was typically diagnosed at the time, describes the viral invasion, replication and the body's attempts to defend itself; then, goes on to discuss bacterial complications, and traces the disease through the history of mankind. Closes the chapter with a discussion of research conducted by Simon Flexner of the Rockefeller Institute on epidemic encephalitis and Richard E. Shope's work on Hog Flu and the peculiar characteristics of this particular strain, noting that: "About fifty percent of those who died were between twenty and forty years of age. [And,] influenza and pneumonia death rates for 15 to 34 year-olds were more than 20 times higher in 1918 than in previous years; they were people in the prime of life, a group that usually has a very low death rate from influenza."

Chapter two, "The Silent Foe," focuses on the impact of the flu pandemic on the millions of American soldiers mobilized to fight in France during World War I. Describes efforts by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, Army Surgeon General William C. Gorgas and others to improve sanitary conditions in the training camps, to identify and weed-out unfit doctors, and their unsuccessful efforts to prevent the spread of the flu to major cities. Offers useful data that describes this spread by date and city location (46 cities), through the Navy ships and shipyards, through the Army camps and over into France, China and around the world. Focuses on descriptions of the virus in China and closes with a brief discussion of the impact on Austrian-German forces.

Chapter 3, "A Kind of Plague," focuses on the impact of the Flu on the allied forces in France, discusses the establishment of the Pneumonia Commission in the United States during July 1918 and describes their work at Camp Pike in Arkansas, Camp Funston in Kansas, and Camp Devens in Massachusetts. Closes the chapter with discussion of the plight of specific individuals, the horrific death rates, the shortages of coffins in major cities, the effect on the political elections, and bans on gatherings.

Chapter 4, "One War Ends," discusses the economic impact of the flu pandemic during September-October, 1918 through the stories of individuals involved, how the pandemic "was a boon to the life insurance industry," the shortages of healthcare personnel, U.S. Public Health Service efforts to help communities fight the disease, how pandemic-related poverty cases overwhelmed the social agencies of the time, and the misery of the many thousands of children who had lost one or both parents.

Chapter 5, "The Paris Cold," focuses on the impact on the work of the Diplomatic Corps in Paris who fought influenza virus while trying -- at the same time -- to address and write the peace treaty and associated documents to end the war. Refers to cases of one prominent individual after another -- Dr. Raymond Pearl with the U.S. Food Administration, Willard Straight who was an investment banker and founder of New Republic Magazine, Joseph Grew of the State Department, economist Clive Day, Colonel Edward M. House, and finally the battle to save the life of the President himself, Woodrow Wilson, are all narrated and implications on the American Peace Delegation are drawn.

Chapter 6, "The Aftermath (1919)," offers an assessment of the impact of the pandemic on both individual lives and on America's public institutions. Suggests that it: forced the U.S. Government to offer financial support for medical research; pointed out to social workers, how essential it is for communities to offer services to safeguard the health of citizens; how health is as much a public concern as it is a private concern; forced a reassessment of the mission and role of the American Red Cross, the New York City Health Commission and the growth of Public Health Nursing; and, promoted efforts by bacteriologists and other noted scientists of the day to find the cause of the infection and spread of influenza.

Chapter 7, "A Tired Nation (1920)," describes the continued impacts of the pandemic on the American public. Discusses the deaths of more prominent individuals, efforts to limit the spread, the hoarding and profiteering that took place, the resulting mental disorders of many of the victims, and how the nation struggled during this "sad and sickly" time.

Chapter 8, the closing chapter, "The Battle Continues," concludes that the flu pandemic of 1918 was a truly "humbling experience." Discusses how the great strides that scientists had made in bacteriology during the previous 50 year had given many a "false sense of security." Cites the pandemic as kindling a vigorous crusade against the disease, with the Rockefeller Institute spending hundreds of millions of dollars in post-pandemic research and being instrumental in creating focus and interest on public and community health and preventative medicine. Offers a detailed discussion of the theories of origin of the pandemic, followed by a wide-ranging discussion of the research and findings of a number of present-day researcher, including: Jeffrey Taubenberger, Terrence Tumpey, Johan Hultin, Mark J. Gibbs, Adrian J. Gibbs, Neil M. Ferguson, Ira Longini, Jr., Pascale Wortley, and David Morens.

Bottom line of the authors? "We must treat this microscopic mass murderer with the utmost respect and never doubt its exceptional ability to adapt, take advantage of permissive conditions where it can, and overcome adverse conditions to develop resistance to treatments [designed] to destroy it when it must."

And, as stated on the back cover: "Because many experts believe that it is not a matter of IF the world will encounter another 1918-like flu pandemic, but WHEN...[this] should be considered essential reading for those interested in learning what worked -- and didn't--during that grim time."

Highly recommended; this book belongs in the collection of EVERY college, university and public library. It should also be seriously considered for inclusion in secondary school collections where students are encouraged to write term papers.

In addition, medical and public health decision-makers in government office worldwide, and individuals practicing in the fields of nursing, public health, medicine, and teaching in the history of medicine and in the life-sciences will find it thought-provoking and useful reading.


... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Absolutely AWESOME
Lock up your house, and hide in a corner! Stock up on food, and never stick your head out the door again, Wayne Simmons completely nails it in this scary as hell zombie filled fun ride! Any fan of the zombie genre MUST have this book NOW!

Right In The Middle Of It!
I love Flu!Simple as that, Wayne is such a good writer he makes you feel like you are right in the middle of all the zombie goodness.The characters are really good, that's what Wayne does, he creates characters that you care about. You may like or hate the characters but you care about them none the less.If you are looking for a good zombie book, buy this book now!!!!!!!

Better than an Irish Jig!
I thoroughly enjoyed 'Flu'.For me the best post apocalyptic/zombie fiction is all about characters, fully developed and interesting.And 'Flu' did more than that.The characters in this book were complex.Whereas in many other books, you immediately identify them as either good or bad, in 'Flu' you have to wait and delve deeper into them until you get a better sense of them... just like you would in real life.That's is a mark of a good book, no cardboard props here!And that is how it would really be in REAL LIFE if the apocalypse was really upon you.None of us are simply good or bad.

I don't like to give spoilers in my reviews so I won't do that here.I would hope you would enjoy the book and it's surprises as much as I did.I will not spoil that for you.I would just say that I enjoyed this book and the characters as it unfolded.This book is obviously set up to be a trilogy and I feel this book is a set up to have a lot more "outward" action in the future (not to say there is not a lot here already, this book has that! Just the more of the claustrophobic kind before the stores run out and you have to verture out in order to survive--- which to me is the most interesting aspect)Anyone used to this genre is accustomed to trilogies or at least sequels.This book takes its time to build characters along with very descriptive situations.I personally think that's how it should be done... and here, it is done well.In this book, you get a feel of all senses... like you were there.This book embodies how you might feel being holed up and having to deal with people you didn't necessarily like or might like (but maybe changing your mind after certain events).Again, just like it would be if you were really in that situation.And again, that is the crux and core of a real apocalyptic situation.

One thing I really liked is how the book is set in Ireland.... almost all the others I've read are inevitably set in either in USA or England.Being an American, I also enjoyed the slight difference in tone, structure and phrases.Reading it reminded me of David Moody... eventhough he's a damned Englishman (according to the Irish). :-) Being an ignorant American, the written words in this book seem a bit more sophisticated... even though the Irish inherently hate the English.I enjoyed the backdrop of some characters being involved in the IRA, for and against.I also enjoyed the political mindset which is historically part of Ireland in relation to England (along with ramifications of a cynically contrived political peace treaty from twenty years ago and its practical consequences to today, ect.)It was refreshing and different from most USA & Englsh based books I've read.

Another thing that also struck me about 'Flu' is how it immediately drew me in.The first chapter deals with cops having to quarantine the sick and the practical/social aspects of that task within a cynical society of people still leary of the police (employed by and following the dictates of an unpopular and flimsy treaty) and already scared of an outbreak... the book starts with two characters having to do just that.Its fast paced and grabbed me from the very beginning.

'Flu' also goes into the goings ons in a detached government base of a fallen society... or rather the broken people who inhabit it and now control its powerful tools... and the things they do with them with no one to answer to.They will impact regular people just trying to survive (some of whom who might have had previous dealings with them and wind up alienating the ones they care about the most just to ensure their safety.)Very interesting stuff!

The haunting cover of 'Flu' had drawn me in to get it.The book delivered on that promise.I'm already looking forward to the next installment.Hope it comes out soon!Can't wait!

Oh, and by the way, for those of you just looking for spraying blood and guts, rotten or otherwise, and don't care about the annoying character development... there's plenty in this book for you too.I think this book hits on all levels.

Had to check the publication date...
After trudging through this book, I had to check the publication date.Yep, there it is, April 30, 2010.Unfortunately, the film "28 Days Later" from waaaayyyy back in 2002 already covered this ground by providing images of people surviving a zombie attack in high-rise apartments or isolated buildings, even wearing police gear, while fighting zombies.I checked the dates because not only is there nothing new, it looks like this author saw 28 Days Later and said "I know!I can just change the setting to Ireland instead of London and nobody will notice!Maybe I should add a few guns just for spice..."Unfortunately, fans of the genre will indeed notice and have.Save your money, you've seen this before.

Irish Zombies!
I finished this title last night, and must say I really enjoyed it. It has been 18 months since I last read a new zombie novel, but I'm glad I picked this one up. It has a very dynamic story line. I liked the beginning that quickly throws you into the action with an interesting and diverse set of characters. The Irish setting, with the shadow of 'The Troubles' and the IRA, etc was inspired. The ending sets up the possibilty of a sequel - which would be no bad thing. I think I'd buy it!

If I had any criticise for the book it's that it possibly missed the opportunity to open up the story on a wider canvas. It keeps to quite a small set of characters, in a limited number of locations. I found it interesting when the story touched upon the military involvement, and I think there was scope to spend some time showing how the government and military all over Ireland were coping with the outbreak. Also, two sets of unrelated characters ending up at the same flat in the finale seemed a tad contrived. I wasn't mad on the idea of the little girl's significance either - Too 28 weeks Later. On a final personal note, everyone being a fine shot with a Glock 17 erked me a little, with a slight lack of realism that (a) it's really hard to hit moving 'head' target with a handgun with any accuracy and (b) the characters weren't deaf from all that shooting!

Small gripes aside, this is one of the better zombie novels I've read and I would recommend it. Clearly Simmons is an emerging talent, and has a bright horror writing future. ... Read more

Product Description
A riveting account of why science alone can't stop the next pandemic

When avian flu began spreading across Asia in the early-2000s, it reawakened fears that had lain dormant for nearly a century. During the outbreak's deadliest years, Alan Sipress chased the virus as it infiltrated remote jungle villages and teeming cities and saw its mysteries elude the world's top scientists. In The Fatal Strain, Sipress details how socioeconomic and political realities in Asia make it the perfect petri dish in which the fast-mutating strain can become easily communicable among humans. Once it does, the ease and speed of international travel and worldwide economic interdependence could make it as destructive as the flu pandemic of 1918.

In his vivid portrayal of the struggle between man and microbe, Sipress gives a front-line view of the accelerating number of near misses across Asia and the terrifying truth that the prospects for this impending health crisis may well be in the hands of cockfighters, live chicken merchants, and witch doctors rather than virologists or the World Health Organization.

Like The Hot Zone and The Great Influenza, The Fatal Strain is a fast-moving account that brings the inevitability of an epidemic into a fascinating cultural, scientific, and political narrative. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Fatal Strain, thoughtful inquiry into a murky subject
Avian flu, is by nature an evolving organism.It is accepted that it mutates at a higher rate than most other organisms.I suggest that it is also a relatively elusive organism. Therefore what was accepted last year may have changed or our perception or interpretation of that knowledge may have changed.Given such fluid understanding, it is good to stop and look back at the progression of the problem and our knowledge.
I have read official reports and other works about Avian flu and was very pleased with this volume as it sheds additional light on those reports.The book is the best layman's "history" I have yet seen for the progression of this virus and our evolving understanding of it.Its information is consistent with at least some official reports and technical papers and the author's credentials and references inspire a measure of credibility.
If it raises concerns of human-to-human transmission that go beyond officially sanctioned reports, it also suggests the political pressures that may have lead to downplaying this threat and cites researchers as sources for the concern.We have recently seen issues and controversy surrounding WHO's handling of Swine flu , which by no means indicates incompetence but only the complexity of these viruses and the difficulty of quickly understanding what they are and what they are capable of.
With that in mind, and realizing that there is continueing disagreement among researchers about Avian flu, reading "The Fatal Strain" is highly recommended to enlarge your understanding of this potential threat.

Global focus is valuable
Just finished this fascinating first book and would recommend it to anyone interesting in global health.
Just one of the most interesting aspects is how cultural and economic considerations often trump strictly medical concerns.
One other segment I found truly interesting was the detailed chronology of the spread of SARS.I followed it in the media at the time, but this timeline was telling.Great effort!

very timely!
This was a terrific read and I'm pleased to be one of the early readers to write a review.The book is a candid, no nonsense, detail portrayal of the spread and current status of the H5N1 avian influenza virus(bird flu).Sipress never wandered from the focus of his detailed review and evolution of the viral epidemics he witnessed.His travels and intrepid search in the countries of Southeast Asia provides the reader with an accurate perspective on the magnitude and implications of the bird flu and why it is of major concern to the countries of the world, whether developed or developing.The human interest stories of the many individuals and victims the author encountered on his sojourn and the effects on the economy of these developing countries captivated my interest and appreciation.
The cooperation between the health surveillance organizations of the various countries where the epidemics were documented was comforting.However, the political insensitivity in those developing countries was equally worrisome.

Of paramount importance in understanding these epidemics and spread of the disease is the rapidity with which these viruses can change their genetic make-up that allows them to infect other species with unpredictable virulence.

As someone involved in biomedical research, it will be a book I will in all likelihood be referring to as we encounter the influenza epidemics of the future.

Kudos to Alen Sipress on this his first book!I look forward to his future or subsequent publications. ... Read more

Product Description

Just in time for cold and flu season comes this fun, funny and imminently practical guide to the fine art of germ avoidance.

Admit it, you either are one or you know one: a person who prefers the scent of Purell to perfume, hates public restroom toilets and pushes elevator buttons with their elbow. In a word (well, two), a "Germ Freak." Well guess what—they're right!

In the bestselling tradition of the The Paranoid's Pocket Guide and The Worst Case Scenario Handbook, Allison Janse—a committed Germ Freak—gives readers the lowdown on how to avoid the common cold and survive flu season with your health and sanity intact. This is the practical information your doctor won't give you (they always say not to worry and may be giving you the latest bug by not washing their hands when they examine you!), but which you're almost literally dying to know, such as:

• How clean is my office desk? (In terms of germs, it's better to eat off a toilet seat)
• Do I have to shake that snotty person's hand? (The new etiquette says no)
• Are my hygiene products killing me? (No, but some increase your risk of illness)
• How do I get out of a public restroom without contamination? (Here's a five-step plan)
• What is the best way to wash my hands? (You have two detailed options)
• Am I the only germ freak in America? (Don't worry, 48% of women either use the toilet guard or make their own)
• Why didn't anyone tell me about The New Respiratory Etiquette? (Yes, it's real, and it's specifically designed for Germ Freaks just like you)

Germ Freaks unite! This book will help unenlightened germspreaders get a clue…or at least a HandiWipe…and prove to the world that, in the end, it's far better to be safe than sorry.

Are You a Germfreak? Some Ways to Tell

• Your exit strategy from a public bathroom rivals an NFL playbook
• Your family and friends think Purell is your scent
• You check elevator riders for anyone who is sniffling and opt for the stairs— even though you're going to the Penthouse
• You turn all public bathroom faucets with a piece of tissue
• You avoid buffets that don't have 10-foot-high GermGuard barriers
• You think BYOB means bring your own bathroom hand towels
• You only go to afternoon (or really bad) movies because they're less crowded

If you answered yes to any one of these questions, you're on your way to becoming a Germ freak.

If you answered yes to two or more, congratulations, you're a full-fledged freak.

Customer Reviews (23)

Germ Freak
Good book for those who don't like germs and try to stay healthy. Full of helpful hints!

Great Read
I really enjoyed this book. I like the way the author used humor to make you think about what you and other people do.

The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu . . .
Funny and helpful.I'm reading it to my kids, who are also getting a chuckle out of it.

Germ Freak's Guide Review
This book was recommended on the John Tesh radio show.Although I haven't completed the book in its entirety contents are written in an amusing & informative manner, not dry & clinical as I would've expected.One can take away as much information as they chose to do. Information and tips are both interesting & scary depending on one's percepiton.Useful tips that we can all benefit by using; albeit some already known.

Germ Freaks Unite!
This little book offers a lot of information for a small price tag. So many things us "germ freaks" had not even considered are covered in this well written book. I had to buy one for myself and one for my daughter because I knew we would want to be able to have our own copy to refer to later. A good investment to make us aware of all the information this book cover in a clever manner. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

What an incredible book... and cover!
This book was absolutely amazing. I would recommend it to all. I loved it from the beginning to the end.

Just as much (I am a huge art fan) I loved the cover art. I would love a print of this photo. Who is the artist of this mesmerizing cover??? Is it someone famous?

heart wrenching
A bloody, brilliant, gnawingly humane cry from the gut.It broke my heart and was thought-provoking in the extreme. Eno is clearly gifted and just starting the ascension to the top of his game ... Read more

Product Description
Experts agree that the world is due for a flu pandemic, and the Bird Flu virus—with a 70% kill rate—may cause just such a catastrophe. Even conservative estimates say such a scenario could kill 2 million Americans and shut down economic services as the virus rages across the globe. As the world community busily prepares for the potential nightmare, it’s essential that individuals arm themselves with up-to-date information. In Beating the Flu, Dr. J. E. Williams apprises the situation honestly and offers vital advice for avoiding Bird Flu as well as steps for safely overcoming the virus should you contract it. Dr. Williams argues that due to a severe shortage in antiviral pharmaceutical drugs, natural medicines will play a crucial role in minimizing the outbreak and ensuring good health for you and your family. Dr. J. E. Williams has practiced Oriental Medicine for more than two decades and is the author of three books. Presently, he is the Academic Dean at the East West College of Natural Medicine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Beating the Flu
This is a great book packed full of useful information.I have been recommending it to all of my friends!

Clear, concise, and valuable!
I love the cover with the feather in place of the word bird.Very effective.Your book is very concise, to the point, and effective.I know how difficult it is to pare down words and concepts.But you did that and it works great.It's extremely easy to read.I feel certain that this book will be a success.Many people are concerned about the bird flu and you make it clear how to protect ourselves. ... Read more

Product Description
An epidemic strikes the United States, plunging the country into chaos. New York Times medical reporter Denise Grady uses this terrifying scenario, taken from the pages of a U.S. government report on the potential outcome of a pandemic, as the starting point for a journey into the gripping world of emerging diseases.

In search of a better understanding of these often deadly diseases, Grady heads to Angola, the site of the 2005 Marburg virus epidemic, a disease closely related to Ebola. On the ground, and sometimes frighteningly close to victims of the disease, Denise explores the realities of health care in the developing world, and its potential effects on our own welfare.

With supplemental sidebars that explain key scientific and social issues and in-depth chapters on the origins and spread of Marburg, avian flu, HIV, SARS, West Nile virus, hantavirus, and monkeypox, this is a fascinating look at the health dangers we face in a global society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Germs and the Altruistic
Deadly Diseases is a well written, easy to understand book suitable for young adults, older adults who like simplification of complex topics, and even advanced middle school students. The author makes the unspeakable palpable, and intricate complexities understandable. Her text is enhanced by remarkable photographs that memorably capture the human element and human suffering of which she writes.

I also like the supplemental text boxes with information that adds to the impact of Grady's story. Short asides about bats, mosquitoes, spreading SARS, and making a vaccine, are fascinating and warrant revisits.

Infectious diseases cause 13 million deaths a year, and viruses continue to reemerge and resurface without warning. Deadly Invaders is a moving book that enhances awareness and vigilance and shakes up one's complacency.

Creepy crawly icky yucky germs
I was at the American Library Conference in New Orleans scoping out various publisher booths when I found myself at the Kingfisher location in possession of a nice hot pink non-fiction tome with the vibrant words, "Deadly Invaders" popping out of the cover.I knew that the New York Times had started publishing books for children, much as National Geographic has, but this was the first of its kind I'd had a chance to handle for myself.So for three or four nights in a row, I used this title to cautiously immerse myself in every dangerous virus outbreak from AIDS to SARS.The book is a fascinating look at how our ever-shrinking world may someday face a pandemic of the worst possible nature.For the kid that wants some info on deadly diseases that kill with no cure, I can't think of a better book to hand them.Just don't be tossing this title casually to any child prone to apocalyptic fears.

Author Denise Grady is a science reporter for The New York Times and has been so since 1998.In the eight years since she joined the Gray Lady, Ms. Grady has had the mixed honor of being in a position to learn as much as possible about some of the deadliest diseases in the world.Grady begins "Deadly Invaders" with in-depth study of Marburg Fever.To study the effects of this viral hemorrhagic disease, Grady traveled to Luanda, Angola to view the doctors working in the area.She then traveled to the much smaller and, to be frank, filthier city of Uige and the province of the same name.Grady recounts both these experiences with the professionalism of a true reporter, then fills out the book with summaries of six other deadly diseases.The effect is simultaneously devastating and gripping (in a way that differs not too greatly from watching an informative but nasty car wreck on the highway).

To be honest with you, I had never even heard of the Marburg Fever until I read Grady's account of it.Now that I have, I am under the distinct impression that it is going to kill me.No no, I'm kidding you.In fact, if anything, Grady's story comes across as a rather hopeful piece on the competence of contemporary doctors.Sure there have been outbreaks and deaths all over the world from various viral amalgamations, but not one has ever turned into a full-blown pandemic.This is, to my mind, nothing short of amazing.Take, for example, the book's account of SARS.Providing a particularly useful little map o' infection, the reader is able to see how a single traveler from China managed to infect four hundred people when he stayed at a single hotel.Yet for all this, we are not currently walking around with masks on our faces.Well done us.

And well done, Ms. Grady.Her writing in this title for youth never patronizes her younger readers.She has the singular ability to make complex ideas and issues simple without being simplistic.In the book's introduction, for example, she is able to synthesize the "Why should I care about viral outbreaks?" question into a succinct chunk: "Whether or not you believe that a humanitarian responsibility exists, there is also a practical, perhaps selfish reason for the rest of the world to try to stop or prevent epidemics in seemingly remote places: nowhere is truly remote anymore."Most admirable, however, is Grady's ability to humanize a story of a dehumanizing disease.When she visits a clinic in Angola to follow the trials of a man in an isolation unit, she learns that his family provides food for him and brings it to the doctors.Unfortunately, all food must be placed in plastic bags, an act that would be considered humiliating in Angola.At one point we hear of a family who has placed the bagged food in a box contained within a beautifully embroidered piece of cloth.And then the man dies alone and without getting to see any of his relatives anyway.The reader hurts to hear this, but is able to stand outside the situation as well.I also enjoyed Ms. Grady's willingness to talk about how she had to convince The New York Times that this was a story worth reporting in the first place.And considering that that's their name on the cover, this comes across as mildly gutsy.

For kids, the book even has small tidbits of info that provide fascinating back-up to the larger story.At one point we learn that there is a theory that viruses are "scraps of rogue genetic material that somehow escaped people, animals, plants, or bacteria."Or how about the fact that many of this awful viral diseases come from eating monkeys?In May of 2002 more than seven hundred primate carcasses were tested for disease and they, "found SIV infection in 20 percent of them.More than thirty primate species were known to carry strains of SIV."Oog.And ick.

We would be amiss if we did not offer kudos to Anthony Cutting's book design as well.What could easily have ended up as a dull dry text punctuated by the occasional photograph becomes instead a lively book with the visual equivalent of sound bites popping up all the time.Maps, full-page info boxes, and mock index cards pepper the pages in such a way that the eye is forever flitting from interesting factoid to the main text.The color photographs, Source Notes, Bibliography of articles organized by date (with additional notes on books of particular interest), Internet Resources (thank heaven), and Index are enough to assure any non-fiction junkie that Ms. Grady knows from whence she writes.

Ms. Grady writes this book for a teen readership, but I feel "Deadly Invaders" will garner just as much interest from science-hungry tweens as well.It's a riveting account of those diseases we hear about all the time in the news, but in a way that makes them feel immediate and pressing.The hypochondriac kids you know may not be able to handle what Ms. Grady has to say, but for anyone else this book is a window into a world that our future scientists may someday wish to conquer.Now if you'll excuse me, I think I shall go and wash my hands.

An important first-person journey with many implications for modern health.
Denise Grady is a medical reporter who decided to survey the threats of flu and new illnesses caused by viruses, journeying to Angola to study the spread of Marburg. Hers is not only a survey of a single disease, but charts the course of health issues, scientific investigation, and accompany social and ethical issues. Students in grades 5-8 will find Deadly Invaders: Virus Outbreaks Around the World, from Marburg Fever to Avian Flu to be an important first-person journey with many implications for modern health.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
When I received my copy of DEADLY INVADERS, I had every intention of focusing on two of the diseases I was most familiar with--Avian (Bird) Flu and West Nile Disease.I had never actually heard of Marburg Fever, but quickly realized that a large portion of the book was devoted to this disease, and became intrigued.

The Marburg Story is broken down into six sections:Luanda, Angola; The Hot Zone; Arrival in Uige; Claudia's Funeral; The Outbreak Ends, and Animal Origins.So what is Marburg Fever?The Marburg virus is found in Africa, Asia, and South America, and is called a viral hemorrhagic fever.Outbreaks tend to erupt without warning, and although they cause rapidly fatal diseases, the illnesses start out with ordinary flu symptoms--headache, fever, aches and pains, an occasional rash, diarrhea and vomiting.What causes Marburg Fever to become deadly, though, is the fact that about half of the victims who suffer from the flu-like symptoms then begin to bleed, both internally and externally.What often follows is a breakdown of vital organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver from the fluid that is leaking out of the blood vessels.

Sounds horrifically painful, doesn't it?It is, and although right now it's only been found in the aforementioned countries and has come to an end, it could arise again, and even be spread to other parts of the globe.One of the most important things I learned by reading DEADLY INVADERS is how easily a virus, whether one that is air-born or one that can only be contracted through direct contact of bodily fluids, can be spread.With the ease of travel from one country to another, and with short incubation periods for viruses with little or no obvious symptoms in the beginning, it is not unlikely that an epidemic of some sort will one day spread across the Earth.

Besides Marburg Fever, there are six other diseases profiled in DEADLY INVADERS:Avian (Bird) Flu, HIV and AIDS, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, West Nile Disease, SARS, and Monkeypox.Each virus has specific symptoms, and none have cures.It is up to medical professionals across the world to work together to find vaccines for these diseases, so that
we're prepared in the face of eventual outbreaks.

This is definitely an informative book.If you've ever wondered about the likelihood of outbreaks of Bird Flu or West Nile Disease in the United States, or if diseases that thrive in third-world countries will ever be a threat to those in the developed world, you need to read DEADLY INVADERS.The threat is there, and it's up to all of us to get ready.

Reviewed by:Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
... Read more

Product Description
Despite the fact that everybody gets colds and flu, thereis no cure for these illnesses. But when it comes down to actuallyshortening their duration, sniffling readers will rave over this book.Included are more than 50 all-new home remedies and alternativetherapies from health care professionals- including conventionaldoctors and holistic healers-for:
-Enhancing the immune system with vitamins, herbs, exercise-and laughter
-Strengthening the body with a flu-fighting diet
-Not suppressing but bringing out symptoms for quicker, fuller healing
-Preventing the spread of colds and flu around home and office

A special directory introduces a wide range of alternative healingmethods with details on contacting practitioners. Scientific facts andfascinating history and folklore complete this powerful weapon againstcold and flu. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Colds and Flu
I thought it offered many good tips over and above the"wash your hands" idea. I loved the many preventative ways suggested to keep myself and my family healthy. I also really appreciated the many ideas on supplements and whole foods to take in case one caught a cold or a flu. I would highly recommend the book. ... Read more

Product Description
From age-old scourges such as smallpox and tuberculosis to emerging threats like AIDS and SARS, our interactions with animals have always played a pivotal role as a source of human disease. Bird flu is the latest such menace coming home to roost. Leading public health authorities now predict as inevitable a pandemic of influenza, triggered by bird flu and expected to lead to millions of deaths around the globe.

The influenza virus has existed for millions of years as an innocuous intestinal virus of wild ducks. What turned a harmless waterborne duck virus into a killer? In Bird Flu, Dr. Michael Greger traces the human role in the evolution of this virus, whose humble beginnings belie its transformation into a killer mutant strain with the potential to become as ferocious as Ebola and as contagious as the common cold. In the face of the coming pandemic, Dr. Greger reveals what we can do to protect our families and what human society to can do to reduce the likelihood of such catastrophes in the future.

Amid the growing panic surrounding this issue, Dr. Greger takes a sobering look at a deadly cycle and offers a solution to ending it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

great book on bird flu
This book is very insightful! It not only show us the data of the catastrophic impact of flu on us, it provides us the insightful fact of the causes of bird flu. Everyone should read it, esp. the public health workers. Thanks Dr. Greger!

A terrifying possibility and sad commentary on our exploitation of animals
Michael Greger's "Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching" is more terrifying than anything a horror writer could imagine, since it depicts a real-life doomsday scenario that seems poised to occur very soon; indeed, the new H5N1 strain of influenza, known as "bird flu," has mutated into a form that can be transmitted by human contact, though not yet on a massive scale, meaning a mass outbreak is more a question of when, not if.

Whereas humans generally contract the disease by ingesting contaminated birds, or being in frequent contact with them, bird flu could blanket the globe when the virus has learned to jump easily from human to human.The author writes: "One day soon, experts fear, with more and more people becoming infected, the virus will finally figure out the combination -- the right combination of mutations to spread not just in one elevator or building, but every building, everywhere, around the globe.One superflu virus.It's happened before, and experts predict it many soon happen again."

Dr. Greger sets the stage for what could come by giving readers a grisly account of a previous avian influenza outbreak: the 1918 flu pandemic, in which 50 to 100 million humans perished.These were gruesome deaths, with blood oozing from eye sockets as the victim's lungs liquefied.Fatalities were so abundant that officials were unable to keep up with burying the corpses.It seems this was merely a sample of what's in store for humanity."As devastating as the 1918 pandemic was," Dr. Greger writes, "on average the mortality rate was less than 5%.The H5N1 strain of bird flu virus now spreading like a plague across the world currently kills about 50% of its known human victims, on par with some strains of Ebola, making it potentially ten times as deadly as the worst plague in human history."One reason, he explains, is the 1918 virus attacked only the lungs, whereas H5N1 shuts down all the internal organs.

"Bird Flu" eloquently contextualizes the subject, giving us a greater understanding of the virus' origins and our critical role in it.The director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at the Humane Society of the United States, Dr. Greger examines bird flu from every angle, creating a meticulously researched work that traces how agricultural, scientific, environmental, political and economic forces have conspired to transform a virus that once threatened only waterfowl into a "highly pathogenic avian influenza" destined to lay waste to large segments of human population.

Among the stops on the author's bird flu reality tour is President George W. Bush's decision in April of 2006 to lift the ban on poultry products from China -- a country well known for its recent outbreaks of avian influenza -- possibly in return for China's agreement to drop its mad cow disease-related ban on U.S. beef imports.(One disease for another, perhaps?No trade deficit there.)Other troubling highlights include the world's inadequate hospital capacity and the inability to create a vaccine, or enough of it, to combat a virus that kills half its victims.In other words, we are as ill-prepared for avian flu today as we were in 1918.And, as Dr. Greger notes, not only is H5N1 worse than what our grandparents faced, but 21st-century transportation means a virus can travel around the planet in 24 hours, not a year.

The book is also a sobering lesson in how many of our human ailments, from the common cold to AIDS, have come from our oppression of animals, especially the practice of breeding and raising them for food.(Dr. Greger notes that human influenza began with the domestication of ducks 4,500 years ago.)Yet authorities refuse to confront the obvious cause of this "virus of our own hatching," preferring instead to devote their resources to containing the outbreak by culling chickens and turkeys and extolling the virtues of well-cooked meat.

Even without the looming pandemic, "Bird Flu" reminds us that eating animal flesh can be deadly.Dr. Greger writes: "For the same reason that people don't get Dutch Elm Disease or ever seem to come down with a really bad case of aphids, food products of animal origin are the source of most cases of food poisoning, with chicken the most common culprit."He notes that although the USDA asserts that proper cooking methods kill all viruses, including bird flu, 76 million Americans still suffer food poisoning every year and an estimated 5,000 die from food-borne illness.The average American kitchen, it seems, has become a biohazard, with pathogenic bacteria found on food-preparation surfaces, sinks and utensils.Dr. Greger quotes flu expert Albert Osterhaus, who concluded that "the gastrointestinal tract of humans is a portal of entry for H5N1."

Although pandemics seem inevitable, Dr. Greger's landmark book suggests an obvious (some might say radical) solution: the elimination of intensive poultry production.Perhaps this is more wishful thinking, given the world's ever-growing appetite for cheap animal protein, but others in the scientific community are also supporting this recommendation, so we may at least see improvements in the way agribusiness operates."Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching" could herald dramatic changes in farming practices, finally driving decision-makers to critically examine not only how this virus came to be, but how we can curtail it and future diseases lurking within animal factories around the globe.

Mark Hawthorne, author of Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism

Essential (and surprisingly entertaining) emergency reading
I didn't want to read this book. Maybe you don't either. But you must. And when you do, you'll find that the author has made it easy, and even entertaining, for you to learn everything you never wanted to know about bird flu.

Michael Greger writes in an engaging and accessible style that will keep you turning pages as he guides you through the history of zoonotic (animal-based) diseases and explains how contemporary factory farming and meat-packing practices not only make the emergence of new diseases more likely but also place consumers at risk of food poisoning by everyday microorganisms like E. Coli and Salmonella. Despite his somber subject matter, Greger is upbeat, giving us the bad news in a way that energizes us to do something about it.

It can happen here. It has happened here. The 1918 influenza pandemic that killed more Americans than World War II was a bird flu. The next pandemic will be too. We all need to know what we might be able to do to prevent or mitigate that pandemic. You need to what to do to protect yourself and your loved ones when the pandemic comes. Read this book now and make sure that the public policy makers who are supposed to be looking out for you read it too.

Superb work on avian flu history and how to plan for a pandemic
Watching a pandemic unfold and take shape before your eyes is like watching paint dry.It is an agonizing process, slow and painful.But at the end, the product is there for all to see.

This is the book to read while watching the paint dry.Like Mike Davis' excellent "The Monster at Our Door," Dr. Greger has done a lot of the heavy lifting for you.He has read countless books, scientific papers, newspaper and magazine articles along with medical/scientific journals and produced the definitive work on avian influenza for the lay reader, decision-maker and concerned citizen.

Along the way, Dr. Greger also shows us the principal underlying cause of the spread of H5N1 (factory farming of chickens and other poultry) and supports his theories with mountains of data, opinion and observation -- much of it directly from the commercial poultry industry he takes to task for putting the world in the shape it is in, bird flu-wise.

Certain passages contain the most relevatory things about food production I have read since Upton Sinclair.It would not take much more to turn me into a vegetarian!I now seek free-range chickens to consume.

Speaking of consume:Once you have read (in order) The Great Influenza (Barry), The Monster at Our Door (Davis) and Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own hatching (Greger), you are ready to dive into the scientific literature yourself.Have a go at all three of these excellent books.

Great book!
It is amazing how much is hidden from the public eye.This author does a great job of explaining how the avian flu is VERY probable. You will never want to eat chicken or eggs again after reading this one and learning about overcrowding, filth, and treatment of chickens and how the avian flu is mutating because of the conditions that we (humans) create. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

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Combat the #1 infectious illness with tried-and-true natural methods outlined in Natural Medicine for Colds and Flu. Ease symptoms and shorten recovery time with a delicious medicinal soup, vitamin C, and echinacea; learn how antibiotics and commercial cold remedies actually slow the healing process; and discover natural ways to boost the immune system. ... Read more

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Acute and wickedly funny cartoons by MoMA/Tate-exhibited artist.Spontaneous,abrupt and wickedly humorous, Dan Perjovschi is fast becoming one ofthe world’s most influential cartoonists. He presents here a skepticalcommentary on contemporary global conflicts and dilemmas, military andeconomic imperialism, and the complexities and contradictions of socialand political life in a post-cold war world. Drawing on popular formsof newspaper cartoons and comics for his often unpalatable truths, hisdrawings are disorderly and disrespectful, puncturing the world of themass media and their trivial, bizarre products. Perjovschi is a masterof the punchline, his command of language unique, infused with puns andmultiple meanings. The result is at once hilarious and subversive. ... Read more

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The Flu is much more than a bad cold. It can kill. How does it spread so quickly? How are vaccines created? Find out in this fascinating book.

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The U.S. government is now practically screaming that a new avian super-flu will likely kill millions of Americans. The mainstream media is entirely onboard, as are drug companies and other corporations poised to benefit immensely off the paranoia. But there is NO coming bird flu pandemic. It's an elaborate scheme contrived by the government and big business for reasons that boil down to power and money.

Presenting eye-opening evidence that casts serious doubt on the truthfulness of reports about the virus's ability to transmit, and its mortality rates around the world, renowned physician Dr. Joseph Mercola reveals the secrets about the great bird flu hoax.In compelling fashion he provides you the real facts you need to know to protect you from a far greater ill - corporate and governmental greed.

Customer Reviews (4)

The Title Is the Hoax
I dove into reading Dr. Mercola's The Great Bird Flu Hoax expecting a thorough treatment of the science behind the bird flu laid out in such a way that it would show why we don't have to worry about bird flu.This was not the case.In fact, there was little sicence in the book and even less dealt with why Dr. Mercola felt bird flu was a hoax.What became apparent was how little Mercola knew about this highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain.The only two reasons he seems to have for believing the flu won't surface as a threat in the US are that it hasn't shown up in chickens in the US and that the human infection rates of bird flu are on the decline.Unfortunatley, neither of these reasons are correct. H5N1 doesn't need to appear in US flocks, nor does it need to enter via any non-human animal.Once the H5N1 mutates into a form that is highly contagious for humans, it will go global from human to human - airline flights will deliver it everywhere.Similarly, Mercola is oblivious to the fact that the bird flue is constantly mutating, again incorrectly trying to support his hypothesis with the current H5N1's inability to transmit easily to humans.Once it gets the right mutation - and it's only a matter of time - it will spread like a wildfire.

As for the rate of human bird flu infections, not only are they not on the decline, but 2006 was the deadliest year so far for humans (granted, the book came out prior to the year's end)(World Health Organization. 2007. Avian Influenza Update Number 76. January 2.
(.......). Mercola again seems to be lacking in his understanding of disease rates when he tries to reason away the lethality of this flu strain. Just like the 1918 bird flu that passed to humans and killed more people than any single war, death rates are based on reported incidents.So, not only is the lethality rate valid based on this, but his hypothesis of lots of unreported cases has been disproven. In the Cambodian province of Kampot, an outbreak of H5N1 killed dozens of chicken flocks and only one young farmer. Researchers swept in and tried to take blood from every family in the area to determine the actual human infection rate. They analyzed blood work from 351 area villagers. Not one person showed evidence of present or past infection. (Vong S, Coghlan B, Mardy S, et al. 2006. Low frequency of poultry-to-human H5N1 virus transmission, southern Cambodia, 2005. Emerging Infectious Disease 12(10). (...........).

The focus of the book deals with his nutrition and health recommendations, and even here, he can't keep his facts straight. For example, he claims that only .003% of eggs are infected with salmonella (p. 171), so that people shouldn't be afraid of eating raw eggs even if they can't get the "healthier" eggs. Yet, he goes to great lengths to show how dirty and contaminated chickens and eggs are from the intensive farming practices of factory farms earlier in the book.

The Great Bird Flu Hoax is not without its good points.Mercola questions the benefits of Tamiflu based on its risks, although I'm hesitant to believe what he states because of his shoddy research on the flu itself.He points out the problems with vaccines and dangers of legislation that could take away our rights not to vaccinate in an emergency.And, he rightly accuses factory farms for being the source of the HPAI H5N1.Oh, I did appreciate being reminded about the benefits of naturally-fermented sauerkraut in fighting bird flu.

Joseph Mercola and the Great Bird Flu Hoax
I found this text to be of real value and very informative if a little verbose and repetitive at times.

The story line reads - there is a potential for a world wide crises but despite the various governments telling us that there is a cure (although it cannot really be afforded) there is in reality no adequate cure or medicine available.

He states that the global (mainly American based) giant pharmacutical industry has blinded us with - well science and rather than look to simple and cheap alternatives and sensible precautions these industry giants have persuaded our governments that they alone have the remedies needed and effectively their lobbying has now given them the right to write for themselves large value cheques.

The example of the bird flue exacts his comment that colloidal silver a very inexpensive product containing a small percentage of the heavy metal silver has the potential to entirely wipe out the patheogenetic effects of the bird flu virus whereas "Tamiflu" has not even been tested and in his opinion will not work at all agains bird flu. I can testify to the effective working of colloidal silver.

Mercola goes on to conclude that the would be pandemic has directly arisen out of greed by large scale and totally unaccontable agricultural businesses who have basically neglected natural breeding and sensible housbandary giving a world choked with waste containing bugs that go on to contaminate swathes of land and effect lives of people across the world.

He adviszes that there is simply no need to trade globally in agricultural produce when we are all in a position to take locally produced supplies - a point to which I say - Amen!(although remember to be prepared to pay a little bit more for the better product)

Although primarily an american text for the American People this book has reinforced my own thoughts on the best way to negate the effects of any forecast pandemic.

A well recommended read for those who are not just conspiracy theorists but who are pledged to taking back responsibility for their own health.

Important book with a few caveats
I am a former patient at Dr. Mercola's clinic, and I truly support everything he is trying to do with our current health crisis.His clinic helped me to overcome a serious illness when all other "regular" doctors, including the prestigious Mayo Clinic, had written me off.He truly helps many people every day, I have seen it first hand.However, I admit I was worried when I looked at the book and saw "SHOCKING LIES" on the cover.I was afraid this was a sign that he would follow the trend he uses all too often, dispensing extremely important health information in a format similar to the National Enquirer.I wish he could use a little more humility and respect for the intelligence of his readers both in his books and on his website.For example, the video he has on his website, "The Town of Allopath", is very, very good, and the message critically important, but it turns my stomach to see "Highly Acclaimed Video Causes Flood of Hate Mail" in big letters at the top of the page.Calling such an important video "highly acclaimed" himself just cheapens it, cheapens his reputation, and insults his readers.
In his book the Great Bird Flu Hoax, however, for the most part, he writes in a professional, but sometimes dry, manner.I appreciated the effort he took to document everything, especially in comparison to his book "Total Health Program", where nothing is documented, and his recipes all have cutesy names so you can't find them later because you can't remember the stupid name he gave them!(Again, he calls this book "BLOCKBUSTER!" on his website.Again, it turns my stomach, mostly because a little more professionalism and humility would go a REALLY LONG WAY and it's just kind of sad.)
But I did find myself cheering for Dr. Mercola as I read this book.I think that he did "get it right" this time.He goes after the industries who need someone to go after them!I do hope that this book does get some press, and that folks will pay attention to it.Personally, I wish that he would have devoted more time to talking about the health benefits of saturated fats versus trans fats in his section on improving your health, and also I think folks with no natural health exposure will be confused by his section on fermented foods and will go out and buy regular canned sauerkraut, but these are not large deals in the whole scheme of the book.I laughed out loud (in a good way!) in the section on vaccinations when he asked the folks who are not used to this kind of thinking to take a deep breath, step back, and calm down.You go, Dr. Mercola!!!
In the end, my wish is that he would write a book that I could give to a highly intelligent but VERY sceptical family member and have it not embarass me with overly cute, and sometimes arrogant talk and undocumented claims.With The Great Bird Flu Hoax, he comes the closest that he has yet.Thank you Dr. Mercola.

Very Interesting
I amChiropractor in Manhattan and I utulize many holistic methods in my practice.Dr.Mercola points out some ideas that are very unpopular within "modern medicine" but pretty common among alternative medicine.
I highly recommend it to all the hypochondriacs.
Visit my website at [...]
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Every winter, the flu virus presents an international health threat. Sometimes the flu season is mild, while in other years it causes widespread debilitating illness. Vaccination against the flu has been hailed as the primary and best preventive measure, yet shortages and the controversies surrounding the lack of effectiveness of vaccinations have led many people to seek alternatives. Fortunately, anyone can prepare for the flu season with effective prevention strategies. If the flu strikes, there are safe, alternative methods to treat the symptoms. Flu: Alternative Treatments and Prevention guides readers in treating the flu with appropriate professional care and home remedies.

The first part of Flu tells the history of the flu, lists its symptoms and complications, and includes a discussion of flu vaccines. Part II describes the alternative medical treatments available to treat the flu as well as important measures people can take to build a strong immune system. Part III features methods for flu prevention as well as treatments for children. And Part IV offers information about the best ways to increase immunity, treat the virus, and prevent serious complications of the flu for seniors. ... Read more

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A little pocketbook offering a complete and thorough understanding of the influenza virus and how to avoid contracting it
Flu: Alternative Treatments And Prevention (Proven Strategies To Protect Yourself And Your Family) by Randall Neustaedter is a little pocketbook offering a complete and thorough understanding of the influenza virus and how to avoid contracting it. As every winter provides reasonable outbreak of the flu, Flu offers readers an understanding of how influenza attacks the body and why it can be deadly, the truth of flu vaccines, effective alternative therapies, and how to prevent or manage the flu at home or with homeopathy, herbs and diet. Now that we are facing "Bird Flue", Randall Neustaedter's Flu is especially timely and highly recommended for all readers concerned with the health of themselves and their family for its comprehensive and complete coverage of exactly what is necessary to in the whole process of flue prevention and treatment.
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Jordan Rubin, along with Joseph Brasco, MD, shows readers how to apply the 7 Keys to Health and Wellness and naturally eliminate colds, the flu, and sinus infections from their lives.

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Excellent health book!
One of the most excellent health books out there!Makes a great gift!I heard Jordan Rubin live & can't stop raving about his books!Practical & Biblical! ... Read more