Ram Mohan

Excellent read , go-to book in the current season of pandemic , demystifies all the aspects of epidemic spreads and the pathogens that are behind it. Well -written , with the layman in mind , the author is able to trace the history of major epidemics like cholera , Ebola , Lyme disease etc , shows us in detail how ham-handed our efforts have been in containing the diseases , and how dedicated work by scientists has finally overcome the past scourges , though millions paid with their lives for our sluggish response. Shah tells a cautionary tale reminding us of the persistence of diseases long proclaimed eradicated such as malaria , smallpox etc , and rightly emphasizes the need for surveillance and prediction of epidemics before they spread and create havoc , by identifying ' hotspots ' or places where they are likely to originate. A must -read for all stakeholders including the general public.