The book goes on a fascinating journey into the amazing world of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and worms and explores the roles they have played in shaping the course of human history. From biblical plagues, to the AIDS crisis, to supergerms of the future, this updated and revised edition of the original covers the whole gamut of diseases that have threatened humanity since its origins. It also includes a new chapter on the history of bioterrorism and the deplorable role it has played and is likely to play in the phenomenal diversity of diseases.

The origin of disease -- Extraterrestrial origins -- Spontaneous generation -- Evolution of life -- Germs and disease : Brief history -- Witchcraft, retribution, and the humor of it all -- Seeing the invisible -- A milkmaid's tale -- Chance favors the prepared mind -- A sheepish situation -- Mad dogs and Frenchmen -- Doctors of death -- That nasty little German -- Magic bullets -- The first chemotherapy -- The first antibiotic -- The first wonder drug -- The miracle mold -- A miracle from the soil -- Back to the future -- The white death -- Captain of the men of death -- Winning the battle -- Losing the war -- New kids on the block -- Lyme disease : getting ticked off -- The flesh eaters -- Legionnaires' disease : opportunity knocks -- The virus -- The discovery of viruses -- How do viruses work -- Acute viral infections -- Persistent viral infections -- Our immune system and autoimmunity -- Origin of viruses -- Viruses as agents of genetic change -- Beyond the virus, the poison -- The gathering storm, emerging viruses -- Emerging viruses -- Marburg -- Ebola -- Lassa -- Hantavirus -- Dengue -- West Nile virus -- Why viruses emerge -- Common viruses that kill -- Influenza -- The swine flu scare of 1976 -- The ABCs of hepatitis -- Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) -- Measles -- Parasites that kill -- Protozoa -- Flatworms -- Roundworms -- Parasitic fungi : a fungus among us -- AIDS -- A new disease emerges -- Searching for the cause -- Testing for AIDS -- Anatomy of a virus -- Prevention -- Treatment -- Where did HIV come from -- What lies ahead -- Bioterrorism -- The nations -- The germs -- Bioterrorism today.