Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1136234 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Synopsis
Scourge provides a definitive account of the dramatic story of smallpox by a leading "expert on biological and chemical weapons" (The New York Times). Jonathan B. Tucker traces the history of the smallpox virus from its first recorded outbreak around 3700 b.c. through its use as the first biological warfare agent in human history, and draws some decisively important lessons for the future. In a timely debate, Tucker addresses the ever-growing concerns about the proliferation of the deadly smallpox virus and its use by terrorist organizations. Explaining how the eradication of the disease in the late 1970s encouraged military research and production of the virus, he exposes the failure of the Russian government to secure its remaining coldwar stockpiles, and evaluates the past and present measures undertaken by the United States to counter the existing dangers of a smallpox attack. Ultimately, he passionately argues for the strengthening of the existing legal ban on the development and possession of biological weapons.

Impeccably researched, Scourge is as arresting as it is indispensable, and as William Beatty in Booklist raves, Tucker "has a sense of both the detail and the broad sweep of history that helps him make the story of smallpox as disease and as weapon fascinating and frightening."

Customer Reviews

Provides Answers and Provokes More Questions
Mr. Jonathan B. Tucker has not offered readers a rapidly compiled, superficial report, in response to the attacks of September 11 and the concerns raised since then. This work is not sensationalized although the effects of certain strains of this disease are hard to describe without appearing gratuitously graphic. There are a wide variety of strains of this virus provided by nature that are truly horrific. Then there are engineered strains that are man-made for use only as weapons that justify questioning how we as a species have survived this long, and how easily the time for many could be abbreviated.

The author traces the disease from Ancient Egypt, to, and until the successful end of an international effort to remove the disease from the planet. This particular member of The Pox Family of viruses does not have a host, like Malaria's Mosquito. It exists only in humans (it has since been used by the USA to infect monkeys), and unlike Anthrax that can remain dormant; when Smallpox is killed it stays that way. The eradication of this health menace is one of the great accomplishments of medicine and of mankind; unfortunately the story does not yet have a happy ending.

Until 1992 when a Russian Scientist defected and brought the story of Russia's massive Bio-Weapons program in Siberia to the world's attention, it was widely believed that there were only two relatively small amounts of the virus in existence. One location was at The Centers For Disease Control in Atlanta Georgia, USA, and a single locale in Russia, which in reality was more than one, inclusive of a massive facility for engineering new strains of the virus and the means to deliver them at a facility in Siberia. The Soviets were not content with a virus that countries had stopped protecting their populations with; they were creating more vicious strains by adding, in one example, a Hemorrhagic aspect to the disease. This is the type of virus associated with Ebola and other forms of disease.

When the USSR imploded there was technology for sale, scientists, and the diseases they had created. It now is believed that North Korea, Iraq, and Iran have the virus, and other nations may have it as well. The World Health Organization had been attempting to destroy all the viral stocks; however they have been blocked not only by The United States and Russia, but many in the scientific community as well. Spring of 2002 was to be the date for final destruction of all stockpiles; this date would now appear highly unlikely. (as I post this the stocks have not been destroyed, and the number of countries believed to have the virus has expanded)

The book gives a very good historical overview of Smallpox and the effects it has had on history. Smallpox has been used as a weapon in war and the effects were devastating. The only technology involved was giving away blankets that the sick had been wrapped in, or sending carriers of the disease amongst the enemy. This was Smallpox as nature created it, and how 17th and 18th century warfare delivered it. The book also goes into great detail about the delivery systems that could be launched upon missiles with multiple warheads (MIRV Missiles), which could release the virus over large areas.

Unlike Anthrax, Smallpox is extremely contagious depending on the strain involved. All strains are contagious; some produce more readily in aerosol form from an infected person than others. This book also makes it very clear that a person who shows no signs of having the disease can transmit it.

The frustrating part of the subject and others sources I have reviewed is that there is no agreement on how much vaccine The United States has at present. I have read numbers from 16 million to 90 million doses. (since first reading this book the USA has enough vaccine for everyone in The USA and many more) The US Government is authorizing production of enough vaccine for the entire US Population as a result of September 11th. Another point that is bothersome, is that once vaccinated, how long is a person protected? No one will state a time frame. The answer is generally phrased as, after x number of years the resistance of the person vaccinated will decrease. I have read numbers from as low as 5 years to as high as 12. Even after these points there appears to be some consensus the person is still afforded some protection.

The one fact that is not in dispute is that with the exception of military personnel, those who work around the disease and others who may serve overseas, no one has been vaccinated in the USA since 1972. So leaving aside how long those who have been vaccinated at one time and may still have some protection, and dealing only with those who have zero resistance, we have a nation with a massive group from birth to age 30, and that population is unprotected.

ICBM laced Smallpox missiles are probably not worth a great deal of concern. (I no longer believe this and will review a new book on the subject shortly) However in this book you will read of scenarios where extremely low-tech methods could spread the disease, for example, in an Airport, and within 24 hours there would be few states that would not have people incubating and spreading the disease.

The book is not alarmist, however after the attacks of the 11th of September, the number of scenarios that once appeared fantastic, must now be viewed with reasonable amounts of serious thought. The manner that the disease was originally destroyed is not only remarkable; it was done in a manner you will not expect. This book may have had a very narrow audience some months ago, now it should be of interest to everyone.

Fascinating!
This fascinating book is the story of smallpox. Starting with the distant past, the author traces the history of smallpox's relationship with mankind. Then, the book goes into luxurious detail on the World Health Organization's campaign to stamp smallpox out. But, just when it seems that the story should be over, it takes an ominous turn when the author begins chronicling the Soviet Union's nightmarish program of breeding smallpox as a weapon. This horrendous project is traced from its genesis after World War 2, through the use of modern genetic splicing to enhance the disease's lethality under Mikhail Gorbachev, to its continuance even after the fall of the Soviet Union.

This is a fascinating book! Unlike some books I've read recently, this one dragged me along, keeping me up at night when I could not put it down. As I know little about the topic, I appreciated the way the author made the whole subject clear to me, educating me while keeping me entranced. Overall I would say that this is a great book, one well worth the cost. I highly recommend it!

An exciting look into the world of smallpox eradication and bioweapons
Jonathan Tucker's "Scourge: The Once and Future Threat of Smallpox" is a historical tour de force sparingly littered with scientific errors and skillfully dotted by artistic liberties. No conversation is too private, no location too classified for the near-omniscient gaze of The Tucker. The demi-author is able to reproduce a vivid world of facts and events mostly true to their origins and certainly within the toleration of the people he described. That said, this oeuvre was a thoroughly enjoyable read from beginning to end due to its character driven narrative. I think that in a significant way, this book is a dedication to all the people who made the eradication of smallpox possible. It centers on the quirks and genius of eradication giants such as D.A. Henderson, Larry Brilliant, and Bill Foege. The detailed (and somewhat questionable) accounts of conversations and chance encounters reflects not only the research which went into this book, but also the enormous amount of time Tucker took to interview each and every one of the protagonists which populate "Scourge".

The central story line is remarkable and is a true exemplar of what is achievable when talented and dedicated people are put together and given the chance to make the world a better place. Tucker's vivid treatment of the events places the reader in the perspective of someone who is along for the eradication effort; from the highest echelons of the WHO bureaucracy to the most common foot soldier in the war against smallpox, the reader is there with the characters. Dispersed in between the various personality-driven narratives are little tidbits of scientific fact which gives insight into the practical challenges confronting the highly translational science of vaccines. The author does an exceptional job at summarizing the key events which led up to zero pox and he makes a good stylistic choice by quoting Brilliant's reflection of exactly how profound a moment that was for humanity.

The last third of the book is less of an adventure and more of a discussion on bureaucracy and international politics. Tucker can no longer switch between the contrasting personalities of Henderson and Brilliant and their respective cohorts, but almost entirely focuses on Henderson's frustrating journey through Washington and Geneva politics. Unfortunately, the pace of the narrative drops off but the quantity of information certainly makes up for it; the author takes us into the classified and shady world of Soviet biological weapons research and leaves us wondering about what exactly is in our next breath of air. At times, Tucker makes it seem as though the places and events described were recorded in person while in actuality they were obviously from secondary sources, most likely interviews with people such as Alibek. All in all, "Scourge" is a well written and well researched book about the people who helped to remove smallpox from this world and also others trying to stop those who contrive to bring it back.