What do you think?
Rate this book
Deadly Invaders: Virus Outbreaks Around the World, from Marburn Fever to Avian Flu
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.
- GenresScienceNonfiction
128 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2006
3 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Denise Grady
4 books2 followersDenise Grady became a reporter for the science news department of The New York Times in September 1998. She was a freelance writer for the department during 1996 and became a contract writer in 1997. Ms. Grady has written more than 500 stories about medicine and biology for The Times, and has edited Times books on women's health and alternative medicine.
From 1988 to 1998, Ms. Grady was a freelance writer who contributed to many publications, including Science, Discover, Time, Scientific American, Vogue, Reader's Digest, American Health, Parenting and Self.
Before that, she was a staff writer covering medicine for Time magazine. She was a staff writer at Discover magazine from 1985 to 1987; an associate editor for The Sciences magazine from 1984 to 1985; a contributing writer to Discover magazine from 1983 to 1984; a staff writer for Discover magazine from 1980 to 1983; an assistant editor for the New England Journal of Medicine from 1979 to 1980; an instructor in writing at the University of New Hampshire in 1978; and an assistant editor for Physics Today from 1974 to 1975.
Born in New York City on April 23, 1952, Ms. Grady received a B.S. degree in biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1973 and an M.A. degree in English from the University of New Hampshire in 1978.
Ms. Grady is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 1998 Media Award from the American Society of Anesthesiologists; the 1994 National Headliner Award; the 1993 National Media Award from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; the 1990 Golden Block Award from the National Stuttering Project; the 1983 National Council for Geographic Education, best geographic article in a non-geographic publication; the 1982 William Harvey Award, 3rd place, from the American Medical Writers Association, the National High Blood Pressure Education Program and Squibb Corporation; and the 1981 National Society of Professional Engineers, 2nd place, 16th annual journalism awards. She also received a commendation from the Newspaper Guild for "choice and excellence of crusading journalistic contributions in the areas of science and medicine," in 1986.
Ms. Grady is married, has two sons and lives in Irvington, N.Y.
From 1988 to 1998, Ms. Grady was a freelance writer who contributed to many publications, including Science, Discover, Time, Scientific American, Vogue, Reader's Digest, American Health, Parenting and Self.
Before that, she was a staff writer covering medicine for Time magazine. She was a staff writer at Discover magazine from 1985 to 1987; an associate editor for The Sciences magazine from 1984 to 1985; a contributing writer to Discover magazine from 1983 to 1984; a staff writer for Discover magazine from 1980 to 1983; an assistant editor for the New England Journal of Medicine from 1979 to 1980; an instructor in writing at the University of New Hampshire in 1978; and an assistant editor for Physics Today from 1974 to 1975.
Born in New York City on April 23, 1952, Ms. Grady received a B.S. degree in biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1973 and an M.A. degree in English from the University of New Hampshire in 1978.
Ms. Grady is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 1998 Media Award from the American Society of Anesthesiologists; the 1994 National Headliner Award; the 1993 National Media Award from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; the 1990 Golden Block Award from the National Stuttering Project; the 1983 National Council for Geographic Education, best geographic article in a non-geographic publication; the 1982 William Harvey Award, 3rd place, from the American Medical Writers Association, the National High Blood Pressure Education Program and Squibb Corporation; and the 1981 National Society of Professional Engineers, 2nd place, 16th annual journalism awards. She also received a commendation from the Newspaper Guild for "choice and excellence of crusading journalistic contributions in the areas of science and medicine," in 1986.
Ms. Grady is married, has two sons and lives in Irvington, N.Y.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 20, 2020
" ... threat posed by influenza and other infectious diseases is real. The dangers go far beyond illness itself, because epidemics can cause widespread panic and disorder. ... The possibility of a flu pandemic has become a major concern for scientists and governments around the world."
"Emerging viruses are among the most worrisome of new germs because antibiotics do not work against them and there are relatively few antiviral drugs. Not every viral disease can be prevented by a vaccine, and even when one is possible, it can take years to develop."
These words are quoted directly from this book, published in 2006, before the COVID-19 pandemic. If you ever believed a virus pandemic was some kind of hoax, then this is the book to read.
"In the past few decades, a host of terrifying emerging viral diseases has jolted the world." This book explains some of the major "viral" scares the world has seen in the past 40 years. The "where", "when", "who" and "how many" and sometimes the "why" (if known) of each is explained. But the author, a medical reporter with over 25 years experience following these outbreaks believes that this is "a story that shows no signs of ending. How doctors, governments, and individuals react to the lessons that we've learned so far .... will determine how it unfolds in the future."
"Emerging viruses are among the most worrisome of new germs because antibiotics do not work against them and there are relatively few antiviral drugs. Not every viral disease can be prevented by a vaccine, and even when one is possible, it can take years to develop."
These words are quoted directly from this book, published in 2006, before the COVID-19 pandemic. If you ever believed a virus pandemic was some kind of hoax, then this is the book to read.
"In the past few decades, a host of terrifying emerging viral diseases has jolted the world." This book explains some of the major "viral" scares the world has seen in the past 40 years. The "where", "when", "who" and "how many" and sometimes the "why" (if known) of each is explained. But the author, a medical reporter with over 25 years experience following these outbreaks believes that this is "a story that shows no signs of ending. How doctors, governments, and individuals react to the lessons that we've learned so far .... will determine how it unfolds in the future."
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
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.
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.
May 10, 2011
Deadly Invaders
By Denise Grady
Reviewed by Sahil
Did you know that there are thousands of viruses that can attack any of you, at any time?
I know you guys would think that a book about diseases and viruses would be boring, but this author makes you want to flip the pages and continue reading.
This thrilling book is called Deadly Invaders, by Denise Grady. She uses many adjectives and similes in her writing, which makes the book even more interesting. When I first picked this book from the library, I was still thinking if it would be an enjoyable non-fiction to read, but when I began reading the first few lines, I knew that this was the book for me.
The pictures in this book make the readers think that they’re actually in the scene at that moment. The images also relate to that scene. From my opinion the suspense made me keep reading, even if I had something more important to do.
Before reading this book, I hadn’t even thought that so many viruses or diseases even existed. For example, the Marburg Fever turned out to be a serious epidemic on the African continent, especially Angola. Most of it’s victims would die within a week of contracting it. Denise Grady is a journalist who was sent to Angola at the time of the Virus.
She had to put on a suit with many layers, and a mask, before entering a house with people, who had the virus. This means anyone could contract it by breathing in air or touching any substance. If they accidentally caught it they wouldn’t be able to get a cure, since there was no antivirus made for Marburg Fever at the time.
Viruses can be spread by any living thing. There was this one contagious Virus called Monkeypox, which was being spread, unbelievably, by prairie dogs which are part of the rodent family. These creatures were being used as pets in the United States, but Monkeypox was a virus from Africa, so how could it have possibly come to the US? Well, people were buying these pets from one specific dealer, who was getting the rodents from Africa, and that’s how this deadly Virus came to the Americas. This means that Viruses and diseases can immerge anywhere at any time.
So, the next time you pick a book from the library, you should first see what condition the library is in, or you might just catch a ...Virus or... Disease!!
By Denise Grady
Reviewed by Sahil
Did you know that there are thousands of viruses that can attack any of you, at any time?
I know you guys would think that a book about diseases and viruses would be boring, but this author makes you want to flip the pages and continue reading.
This thrilling book is called Deadly Invaders, by Denise Grady. She uses many adjectives and similes in her writing, which makes the book even more interesting. When I first picked this book from the library, I was still thinking if it would be an enjoyable non-fiction to read, but when I began reading the first few lines, I knew that this was the book for me.
The pictures in this book make the readers think that they’re actually in the scene at that moment. The images also relate to that scene. From my opinion the suspense made me keep reading, even if I had something more important to do.
Before reading this book, I hadn’t even thought that so many viruses or diseases even existed. For example, the Marburg Fever turned out to be a serious epidemic on the African continent, especially Angola. Most of it’s victims would die within a week of contracting it. Denise Grady is a journalist who was sent to Angola at the time of the Virus.
She had to put on a suit with many layers, and a mask, before entering a house with people, who had the virus. This means anyone could contract it by breathing in air or touching any substance. If they accidentally caught it they wouldn’t be able to get a cure, since there was no antivirus made for Marburg Fever at the time.
Viruses can be spread by any living thing. There was this one contagious Virus called Monkeypox, which was being spread, unbelievably, by prairie dogs which are part of the rodent family. These creatures were being used as pets in the United States, but Monkeypox was a virus from Africa, so how could it have possibly come to the US? Well, people were buying these pets from one specific dealer, who was getting the rodents from Africa, and that’s how this deadly Virus came to the Americas. This means that Viruses and diseases can immerge anywhere at any time.
So, the next time you pick a book from the library, you should first see what condition the library is in, or you might just catch a ...Virus or... Disease!!
February 23, 2010
I got this for one of my students and got sucked into reading it before handing it off. It was rather interesting.
January 24, 2017
Interesting. Great coverage of Marlburg Doesn't include Zika. Does include information on Toscana sandflies which I had not heard of.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews