RISKY TRADE: INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN THE ERA OF GLOBAL TRADE

the long version

While microbes can spread at the speed of travel today, they can be tracked nearly as rapidly via electronic communication. A World Health Organization official introduces this double-edged news about contemporary infectious diseases. Kimball (U. of Washington, Seattle), who teaches an "Emerging Infections" course, traces the diffusion mechanisms of such unwittingly transported and potential terrorist-spread diseases as avian flu, mad cow disease, and anthrax. She also discusses new international health regulations to track and try to contain them.