Dispatches from the AIDS Pandemic: A Firsthand Account of CDC’s Early Response

Authored by Kevin M. De Cock, Harold W. Jaffe, and James W. Curran, Dispatches from the AIDS Pandemic is a unique and authentic firsthand account of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) early response to the AIDS epidemic.

Through a collection of interviews from the CDC’s AIDS oral history project, the authors provide an in-depth examination of the evolution of AIDS, from its initial recognition as a disease to its rapid escalation into a full-blown pandemic. The book is divided into three comprehensive sections, each shedding light on a distinct phase of the epidemic.

The Early Days of the Epidemic in the United States

The first section delves into the earliest days of the epidemic in the United States, providing insight into the initial prevention strategies employed by the CDC. This section offers a detailed look at the challenges faced by public health officials as they struggled to comprehend and combat the rapidly spreading disease.

Expanding Response Efforts to Africa and Thailand

The second section expands the scope of the response, exploring the CDC’s early international work on AIDS in Africa and Thailand. This section provides a unique perspective on the global response to the epidemic, highlighting the challenges and successes of the CDC’s early international efforts.

Scientific Advancements and Community Activism

The final section provides an overview of the significant scientific and public health advancements that followed, as well as the historic community activism that spurred essential funding and partnerships for the development of life-saving interventions. This section serves as a testament to the power of collective action in the face of a global health crisis.

Published by Oxford University Press on May 12, 2023, Dispatches from the AIDS Pandemic is a 384-page hardcover book that provides an authoritative account of the AIDS epidemic and its central role in the expansion of global public health. With its unique blend of firsthand accounts and historical context, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the AIDS epidemic and the evolution of global public health.

Book Details:

• Language: English
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• ISBN-10: 0197626521
• ISBN-13: 978-0197626528