Reviews
Weitz gives us a work that will surely be remembered as a modern classic on topics related to epidemics, and a shining example of how one need not sacrifice technical rigor for social relevance.
In Asymptomatic, Joshua Weitz highlights what made COVID-19 so difficult to track and control. A large cohort of asymptomatic infected individuals also made convincing the public about the potential severity of COVID-19 much more difficult. We learn how this feature is not unique to COVID-19 but also characterizes other important global infections and why we must understand much more about this stealth aspect of viral diseases and other communicable illnesses.
Asymptomatic is a fantastic read. It clearly explains that COVID-19 was so difficult to stop because it was often so mild. This book shares important lessons we need to learn about the scalability of testing and about vaccine development before the next pandemic.
A vital exploration into the silent threat lurking behind COVID-19 and many other infectious diseases. Through meticulous research and a compelling narrative, Joshua Weitz not only unveils the paradox of asymptomatic transmission but also challenges misconceptions and urges proactive measures. A clarion call to understand, prepare, and communicate effectively in the face of global health crises.
Joshua Weitz elegantly shows that COVID is not just 'another flu.' The transmission dynamics are different and the morbidity and mortality from COVID much more severe, especially when a population is naïve to infection. Weitz helps us understand how the virus spread and the role that asymptomatic infection played in it. A must-read for anyone interested in respiratory viral epidemics and their prevention.
Asymptomatic clearly explains how the failure to appreciate the potential for mild and asymptomatic infections to contribute to viral transmission early in the COVID pandemic produced months of confusion, wrong turns, missed opportunities, and lethal consequences. Weitz argues persuasively that improving our understanding of the role these infections play in transmission will be crucial to curbing future pandemics.