Virus Hunters: How Science Protects People When Outbreaks and Pandemics Strike

A propulsive nonfiction look at the elite squads of scientists, doctors, and infectious disease experts who guard the boundary between public health and pandemics and how they gather data via boots on the ground “shoe-leather epidemiology” in order to save lives. 

Perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin and Deborah Heiligman!

Picture a detective. What comes to mind? A fast-talking private eye, interrogating a suspect? Or Sherlock Holmes, in his deerstalker hat, discovering clues to catch a killer?

Now imagine that the suspect isn’t a person but a microscopic menace―a deadly virus or bacteria making people sick. What kind of detective does it take to nab a biological assassin, invisible to the naked eye?

Just like detectives, epidemiologists―scientists who study how diseases emerge and spread―interview witnesses and gather clues to identify the cause of illness, locate those who are sick, and uncover the sources of outbreaks to stop them in their tracks.

From a quickly spreading cholera outbreak in 1880s London, to a mystery illness in New Mexico that stumped investigators, to the development of the vaccines to fight COVID-19 and more, join acclaimed author Amy Cherrix on a journey to explore the past, present, and future of virus hunting as the world’s greatest disease detectives race to crack the medical codes that lead to cures.

• Medical Mysteries: Follow the clues from a deadly cholera outbreak in 1880s London to a puzzling respiratory illness in New Mexico and see how scientists, like real-life Sherlock Holmeses, solve the case.
• History of Pandemics: Journey through the greatest public health challenges in history, from the devastating 1918 flu to the global fight to eradicate smallpox and the modern-day race for a COVID-19 vaccine.
• The Science of Vaccines: Discover the stories behind the shots, from the first smallpox inoculations to the groundbreaking technology that powered the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Epidemiology for Kids: Learn the secrets of “shoe-leather epidemiology” and see how the world’s top virus hunters track down invisible assassins to stop outbreaks in their tracks.

Amy Cherrix writes nonfiction for young readers of all ages. Her books include In the Shadow of the Moon: America, Russia, and the Hidden History of the Space Race and two books in the award-winning Scientists in the Field series—Backyard Bears: Conservation, Habitat Changes, and the Rise of Urban Wildlife and Eye of the Storm: NASA, Drones, and the Race to Crack the Hurricane Code—a Subaru Prize for Excellence in Middle Grade Science Books finalist. You can find her online at amycherrix.com.