Thomas Levenson – So Very Small: How humans discovered germs, uncovered infectious diseases, and deluded themselves that we had conquered them

“A gentleman’s hands are [always] clean” Infectious diseases caused by bacteria have killed well over half of all humans who have ever lived on Earth. Historically, bacterial infections have started major pandemics such as the bubonic plague, which is estimated to have killed 50-60 per cent of the population of Europe during the Black Death in the 14th Century. And yet when a person in Oregon came down with bubonic plague in 2024 it was a non-event. The pathogen involved was quickly identified and antibiotics given. There was no chain of infection and no epidemic. And the patient lived. Germ theory is one of the most transformative developments in human history. … Continue reading →

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