"Engrossing true stories of the pioneers of epidemiology who risked their lives to find the source of deadly diseases--now revised to include updated information and a new chapter on Covid-19. More people have died in disease epidemics than in wars or other disasters, but the process of identifying these diseases and determining how they spread is often a terrifying gamble. Epidemiologists have been ignored, mocked, or silenced all while trying to protect the population and identify 'patient zero'--the first person to have contracted the disease, and a key piece in solving the epidemic puzzle. Patient Zero tracks the gripping tales of eight epidemics and pandemics--how they started, how they spread, and the fight to stop them. This revised edition combines a brand-new design with updated information and features diseases such as Spanish Influenza, Ebola, and AIDS, as well as a new chapter on Covid-19"--From the publisher's web site.

Includes chronology. Includes glossary. "New chapter on COVID-19"--Cover.

Disease detectives on the case -- A deadly year: the great plague of London, 1665 -- Plotting a mystery: the Soho cholera outbreak, 1854 -- Did the mosquito do it? yellow fever in Cuba, 1900 -- Cooking up trouble: typhoid in New York, 1906 -- World vs. virus: Spanish influenza pandemic, 1918-19 -- Mystery in the jungle: ebola in Zaire, 1976 -- The new plague: AIDS pandemic, 1980 -- A wakeup call to the world: COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-21 -- Pandemics and the future of disease detection.