Infectious Disease: A Very Short Introduction

Infectious Disease: A Very Short Introduction, 2nd Edition, explores the biological mechanisms behind pathogen spread across host populations. Authors Marta Wayne and Benjamin Bolker examine key questions in disease transmission through the analytical framework of ecology and evolution.

The volume addresses transmission pathways and individual susceptibility to disease alongside the factors driving pathogen emergence. It explains how ecological and socioeconomic upheavals alter transmission pathways and shift disease dynamics across host communities.

A central feature of the text is its focus on practical outbreak management across major health crises. The book assesses public health responses to influenza, HIV/AIDS, cholera, and COVID-19.