In this second volume, Renaud Piarroux invites us to take a clear-eyed and nuanced look at contemporary epidemics. For despite considerable scientific advances, health crises continue to take us by surprise, to evolve, and sometimes to elude us.
This book powerfully reminds us that an epidemic is not solely a matter of biology: it is embedded in our societies, our lifestyles, our political choices, and the dynamics of the contemporary world. This reflection echoes the discussions at the One Health Summit, held from 5 to 7 April 2026 in Lyon, where the importance of cooperation between countries, dialogue between disciplines and the involvement of societies was strongly emphasised as key to better preventing and responding to health crises.
About the author
Renaud Piarroux is Professor at Sorbonne University – Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital. He is also Head of the Department of Parasitology and Mycology at Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital and the author of numerous books, including Cholera. Haiti 2010-2018: History of a Disaster (CNRS Éditions, 2019) and Sapiens and Microbes (CNRS Éditions, 2025).