Microbial Mysteries

Bats and bearded dragons, raccoons and baby goats-animals are our fellow Earth creatures. But they pose a threat. Each species harbors invisible microbes, ready to leap into human bodies. In the ten fictional stories and one graphic poem of "Microbial Mysteries," public health disease detectives are challenged by mysterious outbreaks from zoonotic viruses, bacteria, and parasites. "Microbial Mysteries" includes prequel stories to the alphabetical MayaVerse microbial mystery series....
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Bats and bearded dragons, raccoons and baby goats-animals are our fellow Earth creatures. But they pose a threat. Each species harbors invisible microbes, ready to leap into human bodies. In the ten fictional stories and one graphic poem of "Microbial Mysteries," public health disease detectives are challenged by mysterious outbreaks from zoonotic viruses, bacteria, and parasites. "Microbial Mysteries" includes prequel stories to the alphabetical MayaVerse microbial mystery series. Readers are immersed in four decades of disease investigations with veterinary epidemiologists. "What's Within" (1983-1984). At the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in New York City, the public health career is launched for Faye Simpson, future veterinary mentor for series protagonist, Maya Maguire. "Cruel, Cruel, Cruel" (1992-1993) sets the stage for Maya's eventual return to her country of birth, China."El Chinche" (1993) unites Maya's future mentors, Nancy Bingham and Fred Grinwold, at the beginning of their career along the Mexican border. The story received an award from the Arizona Mystery Writers."SARS" (2003). Nancy Bingham takes the lead in investigating Arizona's first coronavirus infection. "MERS" (2013). Faye Simpson hops the pond to London and Saudi Arabia for the emergence of coronavirus in camels and spillover to humans. "Bandit" (2018). Class differences in Washington, DC influence the outcome of infection with a dangerous neurologic parasite."Firenze" (2019). A hard-driving immigrant from El Salvador juggles his acclaimed Tucson restaurant, a new relationship with a county epidemiologist, and his bearded dragon rescued from the desert."Eruption" (2019). A teenager visiting Santa Fe joins a young man she meets at the swimming pool in an ill-fated trip to a New Mexico hot spring."Pérdida" (2019). In this reverse narrative story, a young mother in NYC struggles with the mysterious hospitalization of her five-year-old daughter."Road Not Taken" (2020). In this alternative history story, a mother tries to find Christmas Eve joy in Burlington, Vermont during the COVID pandemic. But her world has been altered from ours because Pope John Paul II did not survive the May 13, 1981 assassination attempt."Ringer" (2022). This graphic poem provides a snapshot of the COVID pandemic.