Drawing on the economics of international trade and epidemiology, this title explores the critical health issues arising from the enormous increase in global trade and travel. It also addresses some of the potential benefits the same globalization can bring to epidemic control through surveillance, diagnostics, treatment, and investigation.
This book examines the risks of epidemic disease posed by the modern era of accelerated global trade. Conversely, it also addresses some of the potential benefits the same globalization can bring to epidemic control through surveillance, diagnostics, treatment, and investigation. The empirical approach ties together existing descriptions and case studies of epidemics building a comprehensive framework for examining new events and considering historical experience with infectious outbreaks. Thus the work helps demythologize some of the scare stories associated with global trade such as nvCJD and puts them into their proper scientific context.
'...a must-read for policy makers in health and trade, and for captains of industry who want to keep their ships sailing smoothly in a world where infectious diseases are easily transported across international borders by humans, insects, agricultural products and livestock.' David L. Heymann, MD, Executive Director, Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization
'At a time when world leaders are increasingly aware of public health's importance to security, economics, development and human dignity, Professor Kimball's Risky Trade: Infectious Disease in the Era of Global Trade illuminates with a master's touch the complexities of what is a defining 21st-century challenge - managing globalization's acceleration of the age-old struggle between people and pathogens.' David P. Fidler, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
'...[a] frightening and fascinating book...all the more scary because it is so coolly argued. Scholarly and accessible, Ann Marie Kimball's text is rational but far from dispassionate, arguing that intensive global co-operation is needed to prevent and manage a situation that is spiralling out of control.' Nursing Standard
'This volume addresses an important issue...the author is congratulated on producing a thoughtful, insightful book that fills a real gap in the literature. Perhaps most importantly, the book is very readable...this book should be of interest to all those concerned with the future of global health, and those interested in economic structures that influence microbial traffic.' Journal of Biosocial Science
'...a timely reminder to governments and public health workers that the world-wide ecological changes taking place as a result of rapid urbanization, new agricultural policies and deforestation are driving animal microbes to new hosts in humans.' Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health