What is the main message of Deadliest Enemy?

The main message of Deadliest Enemy is the need for global readiness and collaboration against infectious diseases.

How long does it take to read Deadliest Enemy?

Reading Deadliest Enemy takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

Who is the author of Deadliest Enemy?

The authors of Deadliest Enemy are Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker.

Science

Deadliest Enemy Book Summary - Deadliest Enemy Book explained in key points

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Deadliest Enemy summary

Name: Deadliest Enemy
Rating: 4.5 (67 reviews)
Author: Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker

Michael T. Osterholm Mark Olshaker

Our War Against Killer Germs

4.5 (67 ratings)

31 mins

Brief summary

Deadliest Enemy by Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker is a timely book that explores the threats of emerging infectious diseases in the 21st century. It offers insights into how we can prepare and respond to pandemics that may arise in the future.

Topics

Pandemic Diseases & Illnesses

Table of Contents

Deadliest Enemy
Summary of 10 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 10

What’s in it for me? An epidemic handbook.

For many people, the 2020 outbreak of the Covid-19 corona virus has been a stark reminder of the power of infectious disease. This latest pandemic shows how the biggest threat to our modern way of life may, in fact, be microscopic.

These blinks delve into the details behind some of the most frightening epidemics of the past 100 years. Using real world examples, such as SARS, Zika, and Ebola as case studies, Deadliest Enemy gives a grounded yet gripping analysis of how deadly infections can spread and disrupt our social order.

You’ll learn the science behind these diseases as well as some frightening forecasts about possible outbreaks to come. Drawing on Dr. Michael Osterholm’s long career as an epidemiologist, these blinks provide a strong factual background for understanding our current climate as well as a detailed plan for how governments and citizens can handle future events.

In these blinks, you’ll learn

why you should care if a pig has a cold
what tampons can teach us about epidemics
how a deadly flu could bring down society

Understanding an epidemic is like solving a puzzle or doing detective work.

The year is 1981. A team of experts gathers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, also known as the CDC. Together, they’re trying to solve a mystery: Why are young, healthy people in New York and California suddenly experiencing rare diseases like Pneumocystis carinii and Kaposi’s sarcoma?

Of course, now we know the answer. These individuals were among the earliest known victims of HIV. However, at the time, their conditions were an enigma. In order to solve the mystery, the CDC needed to gather more information about the case. They needed an epidemiologist, and Dr. Michael Osterholm was there to help.

The key message here is: Understanding an epidemic is like solving a puzzle or doing detective work.

The goal of epidemiology is to track and trace the spread of diseases so that they may be controlled and prevented. To do this, epidemic specialists must collect as much information as possible about a given case. Who is contracting an illness? Where is it appearing? Are there patterns to be found?

That’s why, back in the early 80s, the first step that Osterholm and the CDC took was something called “case surveillance.” This involved surveying doctors in New York and LA to find similar cases of people presenting with rare diseases. They found a pattern: the victims were most often young, gay men. The men were experiencing conditions that usually only appear in much older individuals.

As the CDC gathered more information, it became possible to start describing the culprit. This is called “case definition.” In this case, the facts emerged quickly. The disease was a retrovirus, one that attacks the immune system. It is spread by blood transfusions and sexual activity. It most likely originated in sub-Saharan Africa. And, most importantly, it was completely new.

For Osterholm, the HIV outbreak was a Black Swan event. This is the term used by epidemiologists to describe unusual occurrences that have a huge impact. And the impact of HIV has been enormous. Within mere decades, the disease has gone from a few hundred cases to infecting an estimated 40 million people. It is no longer a pandemic, but a hyperendemic– a public health problem that won’t go away.

In this case, the work of the CDC’s epidemiologists couldn't overcome the spread of the disease. It did, however, lay the groundwork for future research into prevention and cures. In the next blink, we’ll hear about another case that had better results.

The roots of an epidemic can be unexpected and complex.

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: having to watch helplessly as your child dies slowly. In the early 1980s, this was the horrific reality facing dozens of families. All across the United States, teenage girls were succumbing to Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS. Even worse, no one knew why.

Was an exotic new disease sweeping the country? No, in this case, the cause was much more mundane. In fact, the root cause was being sold in local drug stores and pharmacies.

An infectious disease pandemic is the most likely threat to humanity.

How do you imagine human civilization ending? Will doomsday come from a big, catastrophic nuclear war? Or will a stray meteor strike the Earth and send humanity packing like the dinosaurs?

While these dramatic events are certainly deadly, they’re also pretty unlikely. Statistically speaking, our modern world won’t end with bang, but with a sneeze.

The modern world is especially vulnerable to a new pandemic.

1918 was a bad year. All across the globe, people were dying at an unprecedented rate. It didn’t matter if you were young or old, a man or a woman, your life was in danger. No, this tragedy was not the outcome of World War One. The cause of this widespread death was the flu.

The 1918 flu was the worst in modern history. By the end of the epidemic, an estimated 100 million people died of the disease. It is a horrifying statistic. The frightening truth is that an even more devastating wave of illness could be just around the corner.

New biomedical technologies could create the next horrific pandemic.

Imagine a strain of flu so deadly that nearly 70% of cases result in death. Pretty terrifying, right? Well, if you’re a bird, it already exists. It’s called H5N1 influenza. And, in 2011, scientists created a version of this virus that could easily infect ferrets.

Of course, these researchers were trying to find ways to prevent H5N1 from ever becoming transmissible between humans. However, many scientists are increasingly wary of this type of research, since it could easily fall into the wrong hands.

A new global pandemic could erupt at any time from anywhere.

It’s finally spring and a young boy is playing near a hollow tree in southeastern Guinea. Above him, bats nest in the branches. A few months later, Ebola, a rare and fatal virus, is burning its way through local communities. Within months, more than 10,000 people die from hemorrhagic fever.

This is the story of the 2014 Ebola outbreak. It is the most extensive outbreak since the disease was first discovered in 1976. And, as bad as this crisis was, it could have been much, much worse.

Mosquito-borne diseases remain a serious and growing public health issue.

A faint buzz, a light pinch, and, a few hours later, a red, itchy bump. For many people in the northern hemisphere mosquito bites are mere seasonal annoyance. At worst, these airborne pests are just a mildly irritating part of a backyard barbeque.

However, for the vast number of people in warmer climates, a mosquito bite can be the harbinger of serious illness and even death. As the climate continues to warm, the threat posed by these blood-sucking pests will only grow.

Microbes resistant to antibiotics are a budding problem we can’t ignore.

Let’s say you’re not feeling well. You’ve got a sore throat, a fever, and maybe a bit of a headache, too. It’s probably just a mild case of strep. Just take a couple doses of antibiotics and you’ll be back on your feet. No problem.

But what if you took the usual pills and you didn’t get any better? What if the medicine wasn’t strong enough and you just got worse? In the near future, this could be a common scenario.

Influenza presents the most acute risk for causing a global pandemic.

Here is a hypothetical situation. You turn on the TV one day to find a breaking news alert: a new strain of flu has been identified in China. According to doctors, it kills 30 to 40% of patients who catch it. Hospitals are overrun with victims. Cases have already appeared on three continents. The World Health Organization is declaring a global emergency.

Sounds like the plot of a disaster movie, doesn’t it? Sadly, this fiction could easily become a reality.

Aggressive collective action can prevent the onslaught of deadly pandemics.

Killer strains of influenza. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bioterrorism. At this point, it may seem like there is a devastating cataclysm looming just around the corner. With all these threats, it’s easy to feel hopeless or cynical about humanity’s future.

But don’t despair just yet. While infectious diseases will never be eradicated, the world can take steps to mitigate the chances of a worst-case scenario.

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What is Deadliest Enemy about?

Deadliest Enemy (2017) is a sobering warning about the serious threat that infectious diseases pose to modern life. Using examples like Ebola, SARS, and Zika, this arresting primer on epidemiology spells out how diseases emerge, spread, and become pandemics.

Deadliest Enemy Review

Deadliest Enemy (2017) is an eye-opening book that explores the threats posed by infectious diseases and how we can effectively combat them. Here's why this book is a must-read:

With riveting real-world examples and expert analysis, it sheds light on the complexity of global health issues and provides valuable insights for individuals and societies.
The book presents a well-researched action plan for preventing and responding to pandemics, offering practical strategies to protect ourselves and future generations.
Through its compelling storytelling and relatable anecdotes, the book successfully captures the gravity of the challenges we face, making it a captivating and thought-provoking read.

Best quote from Deadliest Enemy

Once we understood what we were dealing with and how it was transmitted, we were unable to stop or warn off much of the behavior and habits that led to its spread.

—Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker

Who should read Deadliest Enemy?

Germaphobes looking to confirm their biggest fears
Policymakers with an eye on public health
Anyone concerned about the latest global pandemic

About the Author

Dr. Michael Osterholm is a world-renowned epidemiologist. He is the founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota as well as the McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health.

Mar Olshaker is a New York Times bestselling writer of both fiction and non-fiction. His previous work on criminal psychology is the basis for the hit television series Mindhunter.

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