The origins of AIDS /

In this easy-reading narrative, Pepin (Univ. of Sherbrooke, Canada) explores the more technical aspects of the AIDS virus (first two chapters) and then critically examines the evidence pointing to the origin of AIDS in Africa and the multitude of factors (economics, politics, colonization, labor, and sexual practices) that may have contributed to its worldwide spread (remaining 13 chapters). Pepin's academic credentials and his many years of experience working on a variety of AIDS-related projects in Africa give a high level of credibility to his analysis. His evaluations of the evidence, pro or con, come across as fair and reasonable. His discussion of the effects of colonization and the different sexual practices of natives and imported workers on the spread of AIDS makes interesting reading. Each chapter ends with a short, concise summary and serves as a bridge to the next topic. Pepin highlights the main points of his narrative in the second to last chapter. The superb organization of the book is noteworthy; the reader is never left hanging, and the path to the next topic is always clear. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic, general, and professional audiences, all levels. R. S. Kowalczyk formerly, University of Michigan

In the 30 years since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began, questions remain about its origins. Pepin (microbiology & infectious diseases, Univ. de Sherbrooke, Quebec) combines history and epidemiology to build a detailed argument demonstrating how a virus that originated in chimpanzees could jump to humans and eventually become a global epidemic. He examines the social disruption of the colonial and postcolonial eras and identifies urbanization, the migration of young men to cities, and the resulting increase in prostitution as additional catalysts of the disease's spread. He then devotes several chapters to a number of public health programs in Africa that, while intended to combat various diseases, involved injecting large numbers of people with needles and syringes that were not properly sterilized. The last few chapters trace the spread of HIV/AIDS from Africa to Haiti, the United States, and beyond, with special emphasis on the role of the blood and plasma trade. VERDICT Pepin delivers a carefully reasoned academic treatise on the origins of AIDS; recommended for readers interested in the epidemiology of AIDS.-Janet A. Crum, City of Hope Lib., Duarte, CA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.