Patient Zero: A Curious History of the World's Worst Diseases

Patient Zero is a gripping and informative book that takes readers on a journey through the history of disease outbreaks, from smallpox to HIV.

Written in an accessible style, the book combines "Patient Zero" narratives with historical examinations of missteps, milestones, scientific theories, and more.

Learn about the tragic stories of Patient Zeros throughout history, including Mabalo Lokela, who contracted Ebola while on vacation in 1976, and the Lewis Baby on London’s Broad Street, the first to catch cholera in an 1854 outbreak that led to a major medical breakthrough.

Interspersed are origin stories of a different sort—how a rye fungus in 1951 turned a small village in France into a phantasmagoric scene reminiscent of Burning Man.

Plus, discover the uneasy history of human autopsy and how the HIV virus has been with us for at least a century.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the fascinating history of disease outbreaks and the science behind them.