In The Coming Plague, Garrett takes readers on a 50-year journey ofscience's battles with infectious diseases. She chronicles the spread ofmalaria, Ebola, HIV and other infections and suggests how we might prevent "thecoming plague." Her investigation is not only a scientific journey, but alsois an examination of the relationship between the spread of disease, sociology,politics and prejudice.
A health and science writer for New York Newsday and a former sciencecorrespondent for National Public Radio, Garrett cites the careless use ofanti-biotics and the effects of overpopulation, global warming andenvironmental degradation as important factors in the emergence of thedevastating diseases. She also addresses how the shortsightedness ofpoliticians and policy makers facilitates the spread of disease, especially inThird World nations where growing urban populations, poor sanitation andinsufficient health services help to create perfect conditions for epidemics.
The Coming Plague was named "one of the best books of 1994" by TheNew York Times Sunday Book Review.
In 1996, Garrett was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for journalism. She iscurrently the president of the National Association of Science Writers.
