The Viral Network: Unraveling the Complexity of Global Public Health

In her compelling book, “The Viral Network”, Theresa MacPhail delves into the fascinating world of viruses, examining our collective fascination and fear of these microscopic entities through the lens of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

The 2009 H1N1 Pandemic: A Global Health Crisis

In April 2009, a novel strain of H1N1 influenza virus, born from a combination of bird, swine, and human flu viruses, emerged in Veracruz, Mexico, sparking a global health crisis. The pandemic would eventually claim 284,500 lives worldwide, according to experts. The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an official end to the pandemic in August 2010.

The public health response to the pandemic was complicated by the simultaneous economic crisis and public scrutiny of official responses in an era of unprecedented connectivity. MacPhail’s in-depth analysis shines a light on the intricate dynamics at play during this critical period.

A Three-Dimensional Picture of Global Public Health

Through her meticulous research, MacPhail constructs a comprehensive, three-dimensional picture of what happens when global public health faces a viral outbreak. Her work takes readers on a journey through time and space, exploring the day-to-day practices of virologists and epidemiologists and questioning the production of scientific knowledge, the construction of expertise, disease narratives, and the diverse “cultures” of public health in the United States, Europe, Hong Kong, and China.

Behind the Scenes of Global Health Institutions

The Viral Network offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of renowned institutions, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Hong Kong’s virology labs, and the Centre for Health Protection, during a pandemic. MacPhail’s narrative bridges the micro and macro levels, moving from Hong Kong to Atlanta, from the lab to the WHO, and from the pandemic past in 1918 to the future.

The Intersection of Biological Genes and Cultural Memes

By examining the various historical, scientific, and cultural narratives about flu, MacPhail demonstrates how biological genes and cultural memes become intertwined in the stories we tell during a pandemic. Ultimately, she argues that the institution of global public health is as viral as the viruses it tracks, studies, and helps to contain or eradicate – the global is itself viral in nature.

Product Details:

ISBN-13: 9780801479830

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Publication date: 12/9/2014

Series: Expertise: Cultures and Technologies of Knowledge Series

Edition number: 1

Pages: 264