How to Survive a Pandemic

by Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

Overview

A vital, timely text on the viruses that cause pandemics and how to face them, by the New York Times bestselling author of How Not to Die.

From tuberculosis to bird flu and HIV to coronavirus, these infectious diseases share a common origin story: human interaction with animals. Otherwise known as zoonotic diseases for their passage from animals to humans, these pathogens—both pre-existing ones and those newly identified—emerge and re-emerge throughout history, sparking epidemics and pandemics that have resulted in millions of deaths around the world.

How did these diseases come about? And what—if anything—can we do to stop them and their fatal march into our countries, our homes, and our bodies? In How to Survive a Pandemic, Dr. Michael Greger, physician and internationally-recognized expert on public health issues, delves into the origins of some of the deadliest pathogens the world has ever seen. Tracing their evolution from the past until today, Dr. Greger spotlights emerging flu and coronaviruses as he examines where these pathogens originated, as well as the underlying conditions and significant human role that have exacerbated their lethal influence to large, and even global, levels.

As the world grapples with the devastating impact of the novel coronavirus 2019, Dr. Greger reveals not only what we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones during a pandemic, but also what human society must rectify to reduce the likelihood of even worse catastrophes in the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250793232
Publisher:	Flatiron Books
Publication date:	08/18/2020
Pages:	592
Sales rank:	406,586
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

A founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, MD, is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. He has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in the defense of Oprah Winfrey in the infamous “meat defamation” trial. In 2017, Dr. Greger was honored with the ACLM Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award. He is a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. His first book How Not to Die became an instant New York Times Best Seller. He has videos on more than 2,000 health topics freely available at NutritionFacts.org, with new videos and articles uploaded every day. All proceeds he receives from his books, DVDs, and speaking engagements is all donated to charity.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Prologue xi

Introduction 1

I Storm Gathering 5

1918 5

Master of Metamorphosis 18

H₅N₁ 33

Playing Chicken 44

Worse Than 1918? 55

When, Not If 68

II When Animal Viruses Attack 77

The Third Age 77

Man-Made 85

Livestock Revolution 99

Tracing the Flight Path 124

One Flu Over the Chicken's Nest 151

Coming Home to Roost 172

Guarding the Henhouse 199

III Pandemic Preparedness 215

Cooping Up Bird Flu 223

Race Against Time 223

Lessons Unlearned 234

IV Surviving the COVID-19 Pandemic 239

Pumping the Brakes 239

Treating and Avoiding COVID-19 244

How COVID-19 Ends 265

V Surviving the Next Pandemic 269

Our Health in Our Hands 269

Be Prepared 283

Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist 298

VI Preventing Future Pandemics 302

Tinderbox 303

Reining in the Pale Horse 319

Afterword 341

Acknowledgments 345

References 347