Inside the Outbreaks : The Elite Medical Detectives of the Epidemic Intelligence Service

Since its founding in 1951, the Epidemic Intelligence Service has waged war on every imaginable ailment. When an epidemic hits, the EIS will be there to crack the case, however mysterious or deadly, saving countless lives in the process. Over the years they have successfully battled polio, cholera, and smallpox, to name a few, and in recent years have turned to the epidemics killing us now—smoking, obesity, and gun violence among them. The successful EIS model has spread internationally: former EIS officers on the staff of the Centers for Disease Control have helped to establish nearly thirty similar programs around the world. EIS veterans have gone on to become leaders in the world of public health in organizations such as the World Health Organization. __Inside the Outbreaks__ takes readers on a riveting journey through the history of this remarkable organization, following Epidemic Intelligence Service officers on their globetrotting quest to eliminate the most lethal and widespread threats to the world's health. The “fascinating” story of the CDC’s intrepid investigators, who travel the world to protect us from deadly pathogens ( Chicago Tribune ). Since its founding in 1951, the Epidemic Intelligence Service has waged war on every imaginable ailment. When an epidemic hits, the EIS will be there to crack the case, however mysterious or deadly, saving countless lives in the process. Over the years they have successfully battled polio, cholera, and smallpox, to name a few, and in recent years have turned to the epidemics killing us now—smoking, obesity, and gun violence among them. The successful EIS model has spread internationally: former EIS officers on the staff of the Centers for Disease Control have helped to establish nearly thirty similar programs around the world. EIS veterans have gone on to become leaders in the world of public health in organizations such as the World Health Organization. Inside the Outbreaks takes readers on a riveting journey through the history of this remarkable organization, following Epidemic Intelligence Service officers on their globetrotting quest to eliminate the most lethal and widespread threats to the world’s health. A History Of The Elite Medical Corps At The Forefront Of The World's Most Dangerous Epidemics Cites Their Victories Over Such Diseases As Polio, Cholera, And Smallpox. Cold War, Hot Pathogens -- Throwing Them Overboard -- Killer Vaccine, Goat-hair Anthrax, Rabid Bats, And Staph Attacks -- Pandemic Flu, Purple Enteritis On Mars, Polio Problems -- New Discoveries And Mysteries In The Early Sixties -- The Diaspora -- Fighting Pox, Pandemics, And Special Pathogens -- Eradication Escalation -- Not Just Infections Any More -- Surveillance And Containment -- Target Zero -- The Year Of Living Dangerously -- Superwomen (and Men) Of The Late Seventies -- Budget Wars And New Plagues -- Entering The Computer Age -- Unexpected Connections -- Emerging Infections -- Rough Sledding -- Approaching A New Millennium -- Full Circle -- Into The Twenty-first Century -- L'expérience Fait La Difference. Mark Pendergrast. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [372]-387) And Index. Cold war, hot pathogens Throwing them overboard Killer vaccine, goat-hair anthrax, rabid bats, and staph attacks Pandemic flu, purple enteritis on mars, polio problems New discoveries and mysteries in the early sixties The diaspora Fighting pox, pandemics, and special pathogens Eradication escalation Not just infections any more Surveillance and containment Target zero The year of living dangerously Superwomen (and men) of the late seventies Budget wars and new plagues Entering the computer age Unexpected connections Emerging infections Rough sledding Approaching a new millennium Full circle Into the 21st century L'expérience fait la difference. "A history of the elite medical corps at the forefront of the world's most dangerous epidemics cites their victories over such diseases as polio, cholera, and smallpox."--Résumé de l'éditeur