Plague time : how stealth infections cause cancers, heart disease, and other deadly ailments / Paul W. Ewald.

New York ; London : Free Press, [2000], ©2000.

282 pages ; 25 cm

Includes bibliographical references (p. 269) and index.

Part I: A sphere of infection, the approach of evolutionaary medicine. The virulence of acute infections -- The long fuse of sexually transmitted diseases -- The stealth of the chronic -- The magnificent defense -- Part II: Infectious threats now, on guard against the acute--blindsided by the chronic -- The endless war -- Where are they coming from? -- Malignant growths in our backyard -- Our vulnerable hearts and minds -- Diseases of blood and steel -- Modern miasmas -- Part III: Beyond the fear of infection, managing microbes -- Reverberations across society -- Biobombs -- The protean opponents -- Tools of domestication -- The prepared mind.