Customer Reviews

The Fatal Strain: On the Trail of Avian Flu and the Coming Pandemic

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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.

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.

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!