RISKY TRADE: INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN THE ERA OF GLOBAL TRADE

While microbes can spread at the speed of travel today, they can be tracked nearly as rapidly via electronic communication. A World Health Organization official introduces this double-edged news about contemporary infectious diseases. Kimball (U. of Washington, Seattle), who teaches an "Emerging Infections" course, traces the diffusion mechanisms of such unwittingly transported and potential terrorist-spread diseases as avian flu, mad cow disease, and anthrax. She also discusses new international health regulations to track and try to contain them.