Killer Germs is a riveting look at the microbes and diseases that threaten humankind. From the infamous Black Death of medieval Europe and the scourge of smallpox to the 1918 flu pandemic and the Aids crisis, pestilence has changed the course of human history. This book examines the havocwreaking diseases of the past and looks ahead to the emerging threat of new plagues such as the formidable Ebola virus. Killer Germs takes readers into the amazing world of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and worms to answer questions such as: What disease, known as the "the White Death," has killed two billion people (and counting); What fatal diseas lurks undetected in air conditioners and shower head, waiting to become airborne? Will there ever be a cure for the Ebola virus? In the wake of this fall's horrifying Anthrax attack and heightened concerns about the reemergence of biological and chemical weapons, the public is more keenly aware than ever before of the threats posed by killer organisms. From biblical plagues, to the Aids crisis, to supergerms of the future, this updated and revised edition of the original covers the whole gamut of diseases that have threatened humanity. It also included a new chapter on bioterrorism and the deplorable role it has played and is likely to play in the phenomenal diversity of diseases.