Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic

Interesting Facts

• The book explores the origins and spread of zoonotic diseases transmitted from animals to humans.
• The author provides detailed accounts of outbreaks of various viruses, such as Ebola, HIV, and SARS, and analyzes their transmission pathways.
• One of the key themes of the book is the concept of «spillover»—the process by which a pathogen moves from one species to another.
• Quammen conducts numerous interviews with scientists and researchers on the front lines of fighting infectious diseases.
• The book emphasizes the importance of ecosystems and biodiversity in preventing new pandemics.
• The author examines the role of human activities, such as deforestation and urbanization, in increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases.
• Quammen also discusses possible scenarios for future pandemics and measures that can help prevent them.