Review by Dr. Catherine Zeman, PhD

Dr. Lisa A. Beltz has produced a tour de force scientific and reference book on neglected and emerging arboviral flaviviruses in her latest work, Zika and Other Neglected and Emerging Flaviviruses: The Continuing Threat to Human Health. Of equal and perhaps even better appeal for generalists in the health sciences, public health, and infectious disease medicine, this book is highly readable and straightforward.  A fan of her previous work on emerging and remerging infectious diseases and bat viruses, I was not disappointed with this new effort.

There is something for everyone in this must have text.  For the virologist/biologist there are clear descriptions of the genetics which ties into the mechanisms of infection.  For the medical and environmental/public health practitioner the same information provides rich nuance to the descriptions of symptomology and epidemiological patterns and outcomes, as well as discussing relevant environmental factors effecting range and distribution of the viruses overviewed. For the junior, senior or graduate level student this text could make an excellent foundational read for an emerging/reemerging infectious disease course.

The flaviviruses are overviewed and introduced in a way which elucidates genetics and cell level interactions, the immune system is reviewed, mechanisms of infection discussed as well as a review of tick borne vs. mosquito born spread, followed by a general discussion of prevention. After this overview, excellent and detailed chapters delve into specific flaviviruses. Solid scientific documentation is provided for each chapter.  While many of the diseases caused by the flaviviruses here are described as mild, Dr. Beltz has highlighted multiple viruses such as Rocio virus, ROCV with an increasing range, gradually increasing endemicity with potential underlying environmental drivers, and case fatality rate (13%), that considering our current COVID struggles, brings a chill to the informed reader. This kind of attention to these issues is a real service to the fields of infectious disease epidemiology and medicine, environmental health science, and public health.  It is also an important educational tool for future practitioners in these areas.

This text has left me wishing form more information at this level and breadth of field on the corona viruses and environmental factors leading to the emergence/reemergence of viral diseases of enormous impact to human health, human economies, and indeed the very fabric of our daily lives. I am looking forward to what this scientist and author may next offer us.

Dr. Catherine Zeman, PhD
Professor, Preventive Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health,
University of Northern Iowa
Public Health

Get your copy of Zika and Other Neglected and Emerging Flaviviruses: The Continuing Threat to Human Health here!