The Germ Code: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Microbes

The Germ Code: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Microbes

Jason Tetro

Language: English

Pages: 155

ISBN: B00Y2UO6HM

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


Since the dawn of the human race, germs have been making us sick. Whether the ailment is a cold, the flu, diabetes, obesity or certain cancers, the likely cause is germs. Our ancient enemies have four families - bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa - and many names: Ebola, E. coli, salmonella, norovirus, gonorrhea. . . Human beings are engaged in a "war on germs," in which we develop ever-more sophisticated weapons and defensive strategies. But it is a war we can never win. Our best plan for staying as healthy is to choose our battles carefully, and try to co-exist with germs as best we can.

The Germ Code is a wise, witty and wonderfully readable guide to our relationship with these infinitesimal but infinitely powerful creatures. Microbiologist Jason Tetro takes us outside the lab and shows the enormous influence of germs upon humanity's past, present and future. He unlocks the mysteries of "the germ code" to reveal how these organisms have exploited our every activity and colonized every corner of the earth. From his own research and personal experience, Tetro relates how the most recent flu pandemic happened, how others may have been averted and how more may come about if we aren't careful. He also explains that not every germ is our foe, and offers advice on harnessing the power of good germs to stay healthy and make our planet a better place.

The Germ Code is a fascinating journey through an unseen world, an essential manual to living in harmony with germs and a life-enhancing (as well as life-saving!) good read.

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reduced mobility as well as a high fever. Without treatment—and until the mid-twentieth century, there was none—the bacteria move to the extremities, leading to gangrene and death of the fingers, toes and nose. In a matter of days, death ensues, but not until the body has all but been consumed from the inside out. When the Tartars experienced the outbreak of the plague, they did something rather unique with their dead comrades, whose stench and appearance made for low camaraderie. Using

traditions were different from the urban social norm. These cultures, many of which permitted extramarital affairs, resulted in an upswing of prostitution. For example, in certain areas of Africa, up to 90 per cent of gonorrhea infections were related to contact with a prostitute. Other areas where prostitution and uncontrolled promiscuity led to increases in gonorrhea included the Far East, Greenland and Australia. Yet the numbers in these areas paled compared to the surge in cases in North

became deserted as unjustified human activity was deemed unacceptable. A SARS hospital was set up on the outskirts of Beijing; all patients with appropriate symptoms were to be sent there to keep them away from the 20 million inhabitants of the city. Whereas Toronto targeted the virus, China focused on the people. Both measures worked, and within a month, the number of new cases started to decline. By the end of June, the WHO declared that SARS had been a very close call, but thanks to the

producing few if any symptoms during the first few weeks to months of infection. The virus invades only skin cells. Once there, it tends to play a nasty game of Trojan horse, hiding in the cell and preventing an immune response from being mounted. HPV continues its enigmatic regime by replicating inside the cell, yet not killing it. Instead, the virus takes hold of the cell’s natural function and changes it by speeding up the cell’s own replication process. Skin cells tend to double in number

reason for any infection to spread in the developed world. WORKING TOGETHER Quarantelli’s third requirement for panic, “individual isolation leaving one to fend for his or her self,” is epitomized by the incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAI). Patients who are sick, have weakened immune systems and suffer from other complications are vulnerable to the onslaught of infection, which in addition to impairing their healing may take their lives. The need for microbial safety is therefore at

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