Book Excerpts

Diseases

This section contains brief discussions of some major diseases only. It is not to be considered encompassing in any way. Instead, they are presented to demonstrate the available epidemiological statistics, interactive maps, and some recent trends in the prevalence of the selected diseases, major transmission vectors, and the like.

Nature is not benign. Any belief to the opposite is based on myths. When we behold the sight of a beautiful flower or a pretty bird, we tend to forget that most of these colourful displays have important competitive reasons. From attracting pollinators to warning off predators, there is a plethora of natural schemes to guarantee survival of the species.

Nature is also full of experiments. Some species which have flourished for millions of years, have disappeared due to the arrival of "new concepts", and cosmic impacts, one of which led to the extinction of the dinosaurs and the subsequent rise of mammals....

 

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