Emerging Infections: A Biocultural Perspective on Human Infectious Diseases

Serving as both an accessible textbook and an original synthesis of interdisciplinary scholarship, Emerging Infections by Ron Barrett traces the social and environmental determinants of human infectious diseases from the Paleolithic to the present day.

The Rise of Drug-Resistant Pathogens and Deadly Viruses

Contrary to earlier predictions of a post-infectious era, humanity now faces a post-antimicrobial era with the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens and the entry of new and deadly viruses such as Ebola and COVID-19 in the human population.

However, despite the novelty of these infections, their evolution is primarily driven by the same human activities of subsistence, settlement, and social organization that have been recurring over the last ten thousand years.

A Biocultural Approach to Understanding Infectious Diseases

Approaching these activities from a biocultural perspective, this book examines the prehistory and history of human infectious diseases. This unique approach provides a deep-time perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic, placing it within a much-needed explanatory framework.

Since the first edition, significant developments have occurred in both disease research and the evolution of the diseases themselves. This new edition has been expanded to include recent epidemics of Ebola, Zika, MERS, and COVID-19.

An Ideal Resource for Students and Researchers

Emerging Infections is suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduates, and researchers in anthropology, the medical social sciences, public health, and the history of medicine. The book will also appeal to a more general readership with an interest in public health and infectious diseases.

With its comprehensive coverage and biocultural approach, Emerging Infections is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the complex interplay between human activities and the emergence of infectious diseases.

Publication Details: OUP Oxford; March 14, 2024; Language: English; ISBN: 9780192843135; ISBN: 9780192654847