When Science Meets Politics
In a world battling emerging diseases, a tropical disease expert sounds a warning we can't afford to ignore.
Imagine a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea, whose very genetic material becomes the property of the United States government. Picture health authorities in New York panicking as an unknown virus sweeps through the population, while experts initially dismiss the threat. These are not scenes from a science fiction novel, but real-life dramas explored in Robert S. Desowitz's provocative book, Federal Bodysnatchers and the New Guinea Virus: Tales of Parasites, People and Politics.
Published in 2002, this final work from a renowned tropical epidemiologist sounds a chilling alarm about our preparedness for emerging diseases—a warning that has only grown more relevant in our post-COVID world.
Desowitz reveals how the complex worlds of politics, commerce, and scientific research collide, often with dangerous consequences for global health 1 .
Desowitz connects seemingly disparate cases to reveal systemic vulnerabilities in global health systems.
Written before major 21st century outbreaks, the book anticipated many challenges we face today.
The book's provocative title finds its explanation in a disturbing modern practice that Desowitz dubs "federal bodysnatchers". He draws a parallel between the 19th-century grave robbers who supplied medical schools with cadavers and what he sees as a contemporary equivalent: the patenting of human genetic material from indigenous people for commercial purposes 1 .
The case that sparked this comparison centered on the Hagahai tribe of Papua New Guinea. In the 1990s, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) patented a cell line from a Hagahai tribesman that showed resistance to HTLV-1, a virus endemic to the region. This "New Guinea virus" represented both a scientific opportunity and an ethical minefield 1 3 .
Desowitz questions the ethics of turning human genetic material into intellectual property, particularly when it comes from vulnerable populations with little understanding of how their biological information might be used and commercialized. Though the NIH eventually abandoned the patent, the case set a troubling precedent for what Desowitz calls "the future wars on patenting of DNA/life forms" 1 3 .
A cell line from a Papua New Guinea tribesman was patented by the NIH, raising ethical questions about ownership of human genetic material.
One of Desowitz's most prescient case studies details the arrival of West Nile virus in the United States in 1999. First identified in Uganda in 1937, the virus had gradually spread across Europe before appearing unexpectedly in New York, killing birds, horses, and eventually humans 1 .
Desowitz describes the official response as "a shambles … chaotic confusion … truly frightening" 1 .
He notes that at the time, government laboratories were preoccupied with potential bioterrorism threats rather than naturally occurring diseases. His critique extends to what he saw as a too-politicized World Health Organization, which he accused of being "best at furnishing slogans" rather than mounting effective responses 1 3 .
This section of the book serves as what Desowitz calls a "curtain-raiser" for what would happen if a truly dangerous pathogen like Ebola arrived in developed countries—exposing vulnerabilities in even the most sophisticated public health systems 1 .
First identified in Uganda's West Nile district
Spread across Europe, Middle East, and parts of Asia
First appearance in Western Hemisphere (New York City)
Rapid spread across the United States
Understanding how diseases like West Nile virus are identified and studied requires specialized tools and approaches. Desowitz explains the complex process of detecting and responding to novel pathogens.
| Tool or Technique | Primary Function | Application Example |
|---|---|---|
| Virus Isolation | Identify and characterize novel pathogens | Isolating West Nile virus from patient samples |
| Genetic Sequencing | Map the genetic makeup of viruses | Tracking mutations and origins of viral strains |
| Serological Testing | Detect antibodies against specific pathogens | Conducting surveys to determine disease prevalence |
| Molecular Diagnostics | Rapidly identify pathogen genetic material | Using PCR tests to confirm West Nile infections |
| Vector Analysis | Study insects that transmit diseases | Examining mosquito populations for virus presence |
Desowitz emphasizes the importance of traditional virology methods alongside modern molecular approaches for comprehensive disease understanding.
The book highlights how field investigations and surveillance are crucial for early detection of emerging threats.
Desowitz begins his exploration by highlighting one of history's most embarrassingly wrong medical predictions—U.S. Surgeon General Walter Stewart's 1967 declaration that medicine was "conquering infectious diseases" 3 . Nothing could have been further from the truth, as the subsequent emergence of AIDS, SARS, and other pathogens would demonstrate.
The book investigates why such expert predictions went so awry, examining how factors as diverse as lifestyle changes, global warming, and international travel have contributed to massive disease outbreaks. From cryptosporidiosis in Milwaukee to Hantavirus in the Four Corners region, Desowitz shows how human activity continues to create opportunities for pathogens to flourish 3 .
His career had given him a unique perspective on these issues. As a young scientist, Desowitz had been told by a superior in Nigeria to abandon malaria research because the disease was about to be eradicated—he'd "never make a career, let alone a living, from it" 1 . This turned out to be completely wrong, as malaria remains a major global threat today.
The persistent emergence of new diseases challenges optimistic predictions about conquering infectious diseases.
Desowitz supports his arguments with data showing the relentless emergence of new diseases and the re-emergence of old ones. The numbers reveal a clear pattern of increasing threats.
| Time Period | Major Disease Events | Global Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s-1960s | First identification of West Nile virus; Optimism about disease eradication | Limited understanding of viral spread mechanisms |
| 1970s-1990s | HIV/AIDS pandemic; Return of malaria; Lyme disease identification | Growing recognition of emerging disease threats |
| 1999-2003 | West Nile virus in US; SARS outbreak; Growing antibiotic resistance | Increased awareness of globalization's role in disease spread |
At the heart of "Federal Bodysnatchers" lies a profound ethical question: Should human genetic material be patentable? Desowitz explores this controversy through the Hagahai case, where the line between scientific discovery and exploitation became dangerously blurred 1 .
The commercialization of biological materials represents what Desowitz sees as a disturbing new chapter in medical ethics. He questions the morality of an industry that aggressively pursues patents while often neglecting diseases that primarily affect the developing world 3 .
This section of the book reveals Desowitz's talent for connecting seemingly dry policy debates with real-world consequences for vulnerable populations. He presents the patenting of life forms as not just a legal issue, but a human one—with potentially grave implications for global health equity 1 .
Though some critics found the book somewhat unfocused in its attempt to cover too many issues, "Federal Bodysnatchers" stands as a fitting capstone to Desowitz's career as what might be called a "scientific storyteller" 3 . Unlike his specialized research papers, this book—like his other works aimed at general readers—deliberately avoids technical jargon and footnotes to make complex scientific concepts accessible 1 3 .
His writing style has been described as "conversational" and "gung ho," with a tendency toward casual phrasing that makes even the most complicated topics engaging for non-specialists 3 . Desowitz doesn't pretend to have all the answers, but he raises crucial questions about our preparedness for emerging diseases, the ethics of biological research, and the complex interplay between science and commerce 1 3 .
Two decades after its publication, "Federal Bodysnatchers and the New Guinea Virus" reads as both a product of its time and a remarkably prescient warning.
As we continue to navigate global health crises, Desowitz's insights into the collision of parasites, people, and politics remain not just relevant, but essential reading for anyone concerned about our collective future in an increasingly connected biological landscape.
| Focus | Tropical epidemiology |
|---|---|
| Career | 50+ years |
| Notable Books | 7+ |
| Style | Accessible science |
| Aspect | Details | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Focus | Tropical epidemiology, malaria, trypanosomiasis | Over 50 years of field research across multiple continents |
| Research Locations | River Kwai, Burma, Gambia, Papua New Guinea | Hands-on experience with diverse disease environments |
| Notable Books | "New Guinea Tapeworms and Jewish Grandmothers" (1981), "The Malaria Capers" (1991), "Federal Bodysnatchers" (2002) | Made complex scientific topics accessible to general readers |
| Writing Style | Engaging, accessible, critical of institutional failures | Bridged gap between specialized science and public understanding |