Behind the Mask: How the World Survived SARS, the First Epidemic of the 21st Century

摘要

Behind the Mask: How the WorldSurvived SARS, the First Epidemic ofthe Twenty-First Century recounts theoutbreak of Severe Acute RespiratorySyndrome (SARS) that swept throughmuch of the world, especially Asia, in2003. The author does a superb job oftelling the reader about what wasoccurring before SARS appeared,what happened during the outbreak,and what efforts are underway to pre-vent its return. The author has blend-ed research results and interviewswith frontline staff, particularlyhealthcare providers, into 20 nicelyinterlaced chapters. The stage for thiscommentary is a timeline of events,starting November 16, 2002, with thefirst known case of SARS inGuangdong Province, China, and end-ing in December 2003–January 2004with 4 cases of SARS and the slaugh-tering of ≈10,000 civets inGuangdong Province. Where possi-ble, the author avoided the use ofmedical terms and jargon and pro-vides helpful lay translations wheretheir use was unavoidable. As a result,the book is accessible to readers bothinside and outside the healthcarearena