epidemics

In 2020, Martha Greenwald invited mourners to write memories of loved ones lost to COVID on the Who We Lost website. The site has been growing ever since, as the bereaved continue to write and publish stories, and the writers? toolbox section of the website offers guidance and prompts for anyone wishing to contribute their story about who they lost to this grassroots public memorial. The resultant book, Who We Lost: A Portable COVID Memorial, contains dozens of essays and a writing guide for those wishing to add their own story about a loved one who died from COVID. It is a community-generated tribute, a eulogy, a handbook, and a collective memorial.

COVID-19 has unleashed death and damage on American lives and livelihoods. There have been pandemic successes and failures in public health, the economy, and the development and distribution of vaccines. COVID-19 has given Americans the opportunity to learn from mistakes and leverage successes to do better next time.

The pandemic and the ways in which it has changed people's lives continue to take a toll on mental health. The circumstances surrounding the pandemic laid a perfect foundation for eating disorders to develop, especially among those who were already engaged in some form of disordered eating or already had a diagnosis of an eating disorder.

"The Ebola virus was discovered in Africa in the 1970s. Since then, it has caused several . . . outbreaks. In some of them, more than half of the infected people died. [This book] explores the history and science behind this disease, as well as how it's treated"--Google Books.

"A sweeping look at how the major transformations in history-from the rise of Homo sapiens to the birth of capitalism-have been shaped not by humans but by germs. According to the accepted narrative of progress, humans have thrived thanks to their brains and brawn, collectively bending the arc of history. But in this revelatory book, professor Jonathan Kennedy argues that the myth of human exceptionalism overstates the role that we play in social and political change. Instead, it is the humble microbe that wins wars and topples empires. Drawing on the latest research in fields ranging from genetics and anthropology to archaeology and economics, Pathogenesis takes us through 60,000 years of history, exploring eight major outbreaks of infectious disease that have made the modern world. Bacteria and viruses were protagonists in the demise of the Neanderthals, the growth of Islam, the transition from feudalism to capitalism, the devastation wrought by European colonialism, and the evolution of the United States from an imperial backwater to a global superpower"--Provided by publisher.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has completely altered the way people participate in society. Some of these changes are temporary, while others may end up being permanent. While children have certainly heard the word, they may struggle to understand exactly how a pandemic affects them specifically as well as society at large . . . A list of age-appropriate ways to get involved give young readers a sense of agency to combat feelings of helplessness that often accompany major world events"--Provided by publisher.

"Having originated in East Asia, a new strain of influenza became known among public health officials as the Asian flu. After having spread across East Asia, the virus reached India in June 1957. By the end of that month, the densely populated country was contending with over 1 million cases of the novel influenza virus. Throughout the summer, the pandemic spread across North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. In the months that followed, the world was faced with the second worst influenza pandemic of the 20th century. The Asian flu killed an estimated 1.1 million to 2 million"--Provided by publisher.

"Breathless is the story of SARS-CoV-2 and its fierce journey through the human population, as seen by the scientists who study its origin, its ever-changing nature, and its capacity to kill us. David Quammen expertly shows how strange new viruses emerge from animals into humans as we disrupt wild ecosystems, and how those viruses adapt to their human hosts, sometimes causing global catastrophe. He explains why this coronavirus will probably be a 'forever virus,' destined to circulate among humans and bedevil us endlessly, in one variant form or another. As scientists labor to catch it, comprehend it, and control it, with their high-tech tools and methods, the virus finds ways of escape. Based on interviews with nearly one hundred scientists, including leading virologists in China and around the world, Quammen explains that: Infectious disease experts saw this pandemic coming; Some scientists, for more than two decades, warned that 'the next big one' could be caused by a changeable new virus--very possibly a coronavirus--but such warnings were ignored for political or economic reasons; The precise origins of this virus may not be known for years, but some clues are compelling, and some suppositions can be dismissed; And much more. Breathless takes you inside the frantic international effort to understand and control SARS-CoV-2 as if we were peering over the shoulders of the brilliant scientists who led the chase"--From the publisher's web site.

"Claire is a junior in high school when a worldwide pandemic strikes, and she's in the epicenter of it all in New York City. Suddenly, Claire is forced to isolate with her family indefinitely, which means she won't be able to see her friends or even her girlfriend, Vanessa, in person for a long time. That's when she looks outside her bedroom window and notices something new: A girl who lives in the building across the street sitting on her fire escape. So Claire starts writing a story online about a girl who falls for the girl across the street. To Claire's surprise, the story goes viral-and it seems people think it's true. But how true is true? And what if Vanessa finds out? Will Claire be able to manage her newfound internet fame before everything spirals out of control?"--Provided by publisher.

This title examines viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa with a focus on SARS-COV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from its beginnings in China to its worldwide spread and efforts to find a cure including vaccines, plasma therapy, and antiviral medications. A list of healthy habits is included to help readers prevent COVID-19.