Written by David
Quammen, "Spillover" is a highly engaging (at least to me) exploration of animal
infections and the perils they pose for people. Diseases such as influenza, hendra
virus or HIV live in animals such as water fowl, bats or
chimpanzees and as long as they do, the bug can cross to humans and have the
potential to ignite a new epidemic. In fact, some 60 percent of the infections that plague
humankind originated in the bodies of other animals.
Quammen, "Spillover" is a highly engaging (at least to me) exploration of animal
infections and the perils they pose for people. Diseases such as influenza, hendra
virus or HIV live in animals such as water fowl, bats or
chimpanzees and as long as they do, the bug can cross to humans and have the
potential to ignite a new epidemic. In fact, some 60 percent of the infections that plague
humankind originated in the bodies of other animals.
The emergence
of zoonotic diseases is not a new phenomenon, but they do seem to be on the rise
or at the very least hitting the news with an all too frequent occurrence. Throughout the book, Quammen explores the
reasons behind this and in his last chapter touches on the impact of our
exploding human population, the surge in the population of livestock and our
ever increasing destruction of natural habitats. As Quammen is careful to
emphasise, humans are a part of the natural world. This is the crux of the problem as we like to
think of ourselves as living distinctly separate lives from the wilds around us
when we are in fact very much in the thick of things.
of zoonotic diseases is not a new phenomenon, but they do seem to be on the rise
or at the very least hitting the news with an all too frequent occurrence. Throughout the book, Quammen explores the
reasons behind this and in his last chapter touches on the impact of our
exploding human population, the surge in the population of livestock and our
ever increasing destruction of natural habitats. As Quammen is careful to
emphasise, humans are a part of the natural world. This is the crux of the problem as we like to
think of ourselves as living distinctly separate lives from the wilds around us
when we are in fact very much in the thick of things.
Spillover is a detective story with a difference as it
includes a large host of murderers, all of which are factual. The viruses, bacteria and other single-celled
organisms which primarily infect animals find a way to make the jump or 'spill
over' to humans. Each chapter follows
the quest to track down a new villain detailing the perils of discovery along
the way and the impact (good or bad) on the researchers trying to find the
answer. But Quammen is quick to point
out that pathogens can’t just rampage unconstrained. In order to survive they need to find the
balance between their disease-causing activities inside their host with their
need for that same host to carry them into their next victim through coughing,
having sex or contaminating the drinking water. If the pathogen gets the balance between
transmission and virulence wrong they will die out. As Quammen states, that’s why Ebola is limited
in its pandemic potential....that was at least before 2014!
includes a large host of murderers, all of which are factual. The viruses, bacteria and other single-celled
organisms which primarily infect animals find a way to make the jump or 'spill
over' to humans. Each chapter follows
the quest to track down a new villain detailing the perils of discovery along
the way and the impact (good or bad) on the researchers trying to find the
answer. But Quammen is quick to point
out that pathogens can’t just rampage unconstrained. In order to survive they need to find the
balance between their disease-causing activities inside their host with their
need for that same host to carry them into their next victim through coughing,
having sex or contaminating the drinking water. If the pathogen gets the balance between
transmission and virulence wrong they will die out. As Quammen states, that’s why Ebola is limited
in its pandemic potential....that was at least before 2014!
If you only
read Spillover for the chapter on Ebola, it will be worth it for in that
chapter is a very real situation of how things can change. Ebola in the course of a year, went from a
pathogen that caused fewer than 3000 deaths since identified in 1976 to over
10,000 deaths in 2014.
read Spillover for the chapter on Ebola, it will be worth it for in that
chapter is a very real situation of how things can change. Ebola in the course of a year, went from a
pathogen that caused fewer than 3000 deaths since identified in 1976 to over
10,000 deaths in 2014.
If you're a
germ enthusiast and are looking for a book based on facts that you hope after
reading was fiction, then Spillover is definitely the book for you!
germ enthusiast and are looking for a book based on facts that you hope after
reading was fiction, then Spillover is definitely the book for you!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
