Wendy Orent

Wendy Orent is an American anthropologist and author with special interest in pandemics. Orent is a freelance science writer whose work has appeared in "The Washington Post" and who has published numerous articles in "The Sciences," "The Los Angeles Times," The New Republic, Discover, and "The American Prospect". Orent is currently an instructor of science journalism at Emory University.

Orent has authored two books, Biowarrior, and Plague: The Mysterious Past and Terrifying Future of the World's Most Dangerous Disease, the former of which is an autobiography of the Russian scientist Igor Domaradskij, who is credited with much of the research leading to the creation of an anti-biotic resistant strain of yersinia pestis, the plague germ. Orent's work with Domaradskij led her to developing her own theories about the emergence of the Black Death in Europe, which she compiled into her second book. John Kelly cites Orent's theory a great deal in the acclaimed book, The Great Mortality.

Orent was also involved in a controversial debate about the possibility of an H5N1 (bird flu) epidemic. According to Orent, there was no legitimate basis to assume that any large-scale epidemic would ensue as a result of the H5N1 virus. Though many have disagreed strongly, there has not y

External links

• [1]