The stated readership target group is very general - “medical practitioners working in either the general community or industrial or company based practices”. We feel however that the book does not succeed in serving this target group. There is a wealth of technical detail which is likely to be well beyond the needs of a generalist readership. Additionally there is substantial overlap between the individual chapters.
There were also elements which are factually incorrect. On page 65 (Laboratory diagnosis) the authors mention “diagnostic techniques still at the experimental stage and not yet available for routine use include the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)” This is entirely erroneous, molecular techniques are widely available with a network of 19 labs covering the whole of the UK offering molecular diagnosis. In many areas PCR based techniques are the mainstay of both diagnosis on clinical samples and of sentinel surveillance schemes. The statement would have been true 5-10 years ago.
Much of the book covers material that is discussed in the influenza chapters of standard medical texts. Where the book gives added information is in Chapter 4. Chapter 4 entitled “Relationships between avian, mammalian and human influenza viruses” stands out as a useful discussion of the importance of the non-human species for medical practitioners.
The book concludes with an excellent list of websites from which up to the minute information can be obtained.
This is a fast moving area and interested individuals may find it more useful now in 2008 to read a more recent review.