[.ca] Scourge: The Once and Future Threat of Smallpox (ISBN 0802139396)

Timely and compelling:
This book discusses the natural history of smallpox, its use as a military weapon, the dramatic campaign that eliminated it in nature, the debate about eliminating it in known laboratories, and the threat of its use in bioterrorism. Tucker introduces the reader to interesting but little-known facts about smallpox in history. For example, during the Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold laid siege to Quebek City. The commander of Quebek sent smallpox-variolated civilians to mingle among the Continental Army troops, and within weeks a massive epidemic broke out. The Continental Army burried its dead in mass graves and retreated in disorder. The author concludes that "Were it not for that epidemic, Quebek and perhaps all Canada might be part of the United States today." The discussion of smallpox as an instrument of terrorism is chilling. For example, Tucker reports a Pentagon adviser's concern that "if a ruthless tyrant like Saddam Hussein had his back to the wall and nothing left to lose, he might consider unleashing smallpox against his enemies as a final instrument of revenge." Indeed, Iraq is suspected of harboring secret smallpox stocks, based on circumstantial evidence discussed in the book. Another expert characterizes the threat of a smallpox attack as a "low probability, high impact" risk. "Scourge" is relevant, timely and a pretty good read.

This one is difficult to put down.:
The eradication of smallpox was one of the great medical successes of the 20th century. As Tucker (Toxic Terror) explains, smallpox has devastated humankind throughout most of its history. Highly contagious and with a fatality rate of about 30%, smallpox killed three times more people than did wars during the last century. Tucker describes the ravages caused by the disease and succinctly traces its role in history: its use as a biological weapon (by colonists against Native Americans, the British against American colonists during the Rwevolution and by both sides during the American Civil War) and the World Health Organization's remarkable battle, waged largely under the direction of Dr. D.A. Henderson, against naturally occurring smallpox (the battle was won in 1980). Even as the last traces of smallpox were being destroyed, however, the Soviets were experimenting with military uses for the deadly virus. Drawing on popularly published sources, Tucker argues that such research continued at least until the Soviet Union disbanded, and probably beyond. Other than mentioning that President Nixon prohibited such research in the United States, Tucker remains silent about any U.S. offensive strategies involving the disease. Warning that terrorists might well have access to samples of the smallpox virus, he remarks that, if successfully unleashed, the virus could decimate the world's population. Even though a naturally occurring case of smallpox has not been seen in more than 20 years, the government spends millions of dollars annually researching treatment strategies and producing vaccines for storage. Tucker breathes new life into mostly familiar material; the book is difficult to put down.

Incredibly fascinating!:
There are already a number of great Amazon\o.com\c reviews on this book; I just wanted to add my voice and say how much I enjoyed it. It is incredibly well written and very difficult to put down. Tucker does a fantastic job of presenting the harsh history of small pox as well as alerting the reader the to potential modern-day threat. It is immensely interesting and informative. I've leant this book to a couple of friends, and they both were very pleased with it.

Different viewpoint of the same problem.:
I just recently finish Preston's book 'The Demon in the Freezer'. You would think that would fulfill my appetite for knowledge concerning smallpox, right? But that particular book and this one, Scourge, are very different. While Preston writes for the masses, often in a very novelistic, suspenseful way to bring information concerning microbial dangers to everyone, this particular book is more for those whose interests and avocations and jobs lie in these fields. This does not mean the book is written boringly. Both books deserved the five stars for different reasons. 'Demon...' was exciting and horrifying in it's details concerning smallpox, this book brings to life the unfortunate politics played behind the scenes by physicians, by government entities such as the Defense Department, by politicians who do not understand the full implications of most biological and bioethical discussions, by entire countries (U.S. and Russia the worst as per usual). Though Tucker and Preston mention a few names and incidents in common in their books, their writing is very different. Tucker is deeply involved in bioweapons development as a member of an elite group that monitors this type of problem internationally. Preston writes like a journalist. So the impact of their writing is completely different and I personally think anyone interested in this problem is well-served by reading both books. Scourge tells the story of the political problems not only in eradicating the smallpox worldwide, but the current problem concerning the existence of stocks at the CDC and VEctor, and whether they should be destroyed. Tucker goes into far more detail concerning the problems in India and Bangladesh that made that country one of the last to contain smallpox (and bodes ill should smallpox ever raises its head there again). He also goes into much more detail concerning Russia's two-faced behavior in supplying the world with the vaccine that led to eradication, but in secret continuing to work on smallpox and genetic variations in order to have them for biological weaponry. Tucker also gives a good warning at the end chapter, that while the ability to use smallpox as a weapon is more difficult then imagined, the possibility of using it still exists. He emphasizes that panic does not contribute anything useful, but awareness and preparation for the possibility does. I am glad that the smallpox vaccinations are there, and I think more physicians and other medical personnel should be prepared for seeing these cases, and being able to differentiate between smallpox, flu, and chickenpox. Karen Sadler, Science Education

"The Pox on both your houses":
A book that is timely in consideration of the current crisis. Well documented and microbiology majors will appreciate all the WHO accounts. It is understandable even by a layman and is a book of warning. This dreaded disease is one of the worst to be faced by humanity and the book delves into the terrible history and the valiant fight to eradicate it. The folly of course, is that it is a political weapon of terror and nations violated obligations to "preserve" specimens for war use. This brings us to the dangers of today and how rogue nations might unleash this plague again where it could have a "doubling" effect in that many have ancient vaccinations that have worn out and others that have never known the disease are therefore prime meat for infection. A gripping account and well worth the read.