This pocket book on Exotic Viral Diseases was written in response to the possible introduction by intentional (bioterrorism and biological warfare) or non-intentional means of viruses exotic to industrialised countries, as a brief guide or perhaps ‘aide memoire’ for clinicians. Non-international introduction of virus infection as a result of travel (tourism, business travel, migration and commerce) is, of course, frequent and much more likely with hundreds of millions of people crossing international borders each year. Such population movements each year influence profoundly the epidemiology of disease, particularly infections, the environment, facilities and natural resources, and they also have a marked impact on economic, demographic, technological and cultural factors.
This book is a useful précis of some 50 generic viral diseases of humans ranging from Argentine Haemorrhagic Fever to Yellow Fever including the truly exotic virus infections such as Ebola, Lassa and Marburg, which are exceptionally serious (although Lassa fever, for example may be much more common and considerably less severe in the indigenous population of West Africa). This leads to the consideration of the term exotic viruses, which is usually applied in clinical virology to rare, unusual or bizarre viral agents such as Ebola virus. At the same time, the word exotic is applied by common usage to ‘colourful, extraordinary, curious, alien, imported from abroad’, so that the authors can be justified in using the title for the book.
The practical usefulness of this book for the clinician, who is confronted by an unusual infection and is likely to consult large tomes on virology or perhaps tropical diseases, is illustrated by the recent introduction of West Nile virus to North America, monkeypox to the USA, and previously the Reston strain of Ebola virus to the USA from monkeys imported from The Philippines. Dengue virus, which probably causes as much illness as all the other arboviruses put together, is distributed now much more widely geographically with two thirds of the world’s population living in areas infested with potential dengue virus vectors. Much has also to be learnt from the recent SARS outbreak caused by a human coronavirus, and no doubt other new viruses will emerge in the future.
There is one criticism of the small volume. The pocket size of the book is probably of little value since it is unlikely to be carried in the pocket of clinicians, the type-setting is too small, and it will be unfortunate if this book is lost on the book shelves of the clinic or the library.
Exotic Viral Diseases is a welcome and useful addition of compact information designed for the clinician. The tabulated data and the appendices (for example on sample collection, shipment and diagnostic tests; and or antiviral drugs and vaccines) are helpful. This little book is recommended reading for the busy clinician and those interested in travel medicine and infectious diseases.