Asia (with Europe) is the largest continuous landmass, containing a variety of countries, peoples and scenic wonders. It is the objective of many travellers to get from one end to the other, but in doing so there are different ways and many hazards in the way.
The sixth edition of this best-selling text offers a thorough overview of communicable diseases, integrating theory, epidemiology, and control strategies. It organizes diseases based on their transmission methods and includes special chapters addressing infections during pregnancy and emerging diseases. An annex provides a convenient reference table listing all 353 diseases, making it a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of communicable diseases.
South America is a land of contrasts from the high Andes that stretch from one end of the continent to the other, the longest mountain chain in the world, to the Amazon, the greatest of rivers. Within are peoples from many ancient civilisations, to some of the largest cities in the Southern Hemisphere. My travels commenced in the 1970s, to progressively visit every country and, as far as possible, every part of this fascinating land, right up until 2017. Initially by bus and the amazing mountain railways that sadly are no more, they include a river journey the length of the Amazon and more detailed travel to remoter parts. Mostly for my own interest, some of the visits were in my medical speciality, taking me to places not easy to get to. It is a wonderful part of the world to explore.
Diseases have played a major role in making us human and probably determine the way we run our lives. History is full of the great epidemics of plague, smallpox and anthrax, but we survived because of our genetic variation and immune system. Disease continues to have a profound effect, setting the course of the world just as much as nature has.
Return to Zanzibar is a personal story of Africa in all its many facets.
