Did you know that bacteria and viruses exist everywhere on Earth? Did you also know that only three percent of all microbes can harm you? Microbes can be extremely dangerous and even fatal despite them being microscopic and naked to the human eye. The Atlas of Human Infectious Diseases by Heiman F.L. Wertheim gives an overview of the present-day distribution of the major infectious diseases. The maps in this atlas are colored and show the areas in the world where these harmful agents exist. Also, each map contains a basic summary of key facts about each agent. As a result of diseases killing many people, the maps show changes in human population and how the disease is spreading. This atlas is extremely important for many reasons. For example, if someone is diagnosed with a rare infectious disease such as Schistosomiasis, a parasitic worm that lives in the liver and gives birth to thousands of eggs, which contain a sharp spike and tear up tissue all over the body, one could use this atlas to determine possible regions where the patient might have gotten the disease from and learn more about the specific microbe. This atlas is an essential tool for anyone wanting to learn about major infectious diseases.
– S.K.
Works Cited
“Atlas of Human Infectious Diseases.” Fundaciono. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. <http://www.fundacionio.org/img/books/Atlas%20of%20human%20infectious%20diseases.jpg>.
“Atlas of Human Infectious Diseases.” University of Richmond Libraries. Ex Libris Group, n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. <http://librarycat.richmond.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=5861&recCount=25&recPointer=9&bibId=1538445>.