For decades scientists have been warning of global pandemic, and the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has realized their worst fears.

Outbreaks & Pandemics, written on the eve of the pandemic, has proved to be grimly prophetic. It narrates a disquieting journey through the history, science, and politics of humankind's ongoing war against contagion; investigates modern responses; and assesses the chances of eradicating disease in the future. It also reveals how globalization, mobile populations, climate change, vaccine hesitancy, and drug-resistant pathogens have combined to create the perfect conditions for pandemics to spread.

This updated and illustrated edition is essential reading, combining extensive research with illuminating photographs and infographics to chart the pattern of outbreaks and reveal the microscopic world at their heart.