FREE ESSAY ON THE HOT ZONE

THE HOT ZONE

Section II: Summary
" We don't really know what Ebola has done in the past, and we don't know what it might
do in the future." (p.49) According to Eugene Johnson, a civilian virus hunter,
specializing in Ebola, the essence of the virus itself is one whose existence is still
unintelligible to humans. The knowledge of the nature of this virus, as well as Marburg
the "gentle sister" of the three filovirus sisters (Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, and
Marburg), remains questionable today. In his book, The Hot Zone, Richard Preston shares a
horrifying account of the hideous outbreaks of these recognized deadly viruses, in
particular the appearance of a lethal virus in the outskirts of Washington, DC. 
It began in October of 1989, when Hazleton Research Products accepted a shipment of a
hundred wild monkeys from the Philippines. The monkeys were crab-eating monkeys, a
species that resided in the coastal rain forests on the island of Mindanao. They arrived
at the Reston monkey house on October 4, with two of which were already dead in their
crates. Although this was not an unusual occurrence, Dan Dalgard who was a veterinarian
that cared for the monkeys feared that they were dying from Simian Hemorrhagic Fever, a
disease lethal to monkeys but harmless to humans. He decided upon the assistance of the
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) with the
diagnosis of this situation, proceeding the death of a large number of monkeys within a
period of a month. 
Thomas Geisbert was an intern at the Institute, who operated the electron microscope,
which uses a beam of electrons to make images of smaller objects, such as viruses. Upon
the examination of a piece of meat of an infected Reston monkey, he came to the
conclusion that they had come across a filovirus, which greatly resembled Marburg. Dr.
Peter Jahlring of this Institute followed with a lab testing of the virus culture from
the monkeys. 
He had performed tests using the blood serum from three human victims. A test for
Marburg, using the serum from the blood of Dr. Shem Musoke, a survivor who was presumable
infected by a deceased patient "Charles Monet". Charles Monet had apparently received the
virus in the Kitum Cave, nestled in the African Mount Elgon. 
Next, was a test for Ebola Sudan, from a man named Boniface who died in Sudan. Finally,
was a test for Ebola Zaire, from the bloodstream of the deceased Nurse Mayinga.
Although his tests proved that Marburg was nonexistent among these monkey cells, much to
his dismay, the blood tested positive for the Ebola Zaire virus. 
Marburg virus affects humans somewhat like nuclear radiation, damaging basically all the
tissues of the body, in particular the internal organs, connective tissue, intestines,
reproductive organs and skin. Hemorrhage occurs from all openings of the body. The 
Ebola Sudan is more that twice as lethal as Marburg, its case-fatality rate being 50
percent. And the Ebola Zaire strain is nearly twice as lethal as the Sudan. Ebola kills a
great deal of tissue while the victim is still alive, and destroys the brain more
thoroughly than does the Marburg, as well. After death, the virus leads the cadaver to
deteriorate rapidly.
A number of tests proved his conclusion to be correct. Ebola Zaire had hit the United
States. Eventually the Army organized a SWAT team to perform Euthanasia of the animals of
the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit, to gather scientific samples, and ultimately to
ensure the safety of the human population. The effort was successful, and the diagnosis
was eventually made. The Ebola Reston Virus was airborne, comparable to influenza, except
with a lethal effect among monkeys. Fortunately, it did not have an effect on humans.
Theoretically, an airborne strain of Ebola could emerge and circle the entire world in a
matter of six weeks, amounting in a drastic decrease of the human population.
Section III: Critique
Preston's fast-paced and fascinating tale of scientific wonder, both negative and
positive, is one that falsifies the reader into the belief of science fiction. However,
this terrifying story is the complete truth, an exhibition of nature's parasites, or
predators, in its purest form. 
The horrifying descriptions of events, from a hospital in Africa to an Institute in the
US, keep the reader on edge, awaiting the next move. From the hideous condition of
Charles Monet, with blood dripping from every orifice and the images of thick black
liquid staining the walls of a hospital, the reader is disgusted, and yet appalled by the
effects of the exotic virus. And leaving the reader with the perception of distraught
monkeys, seeking their revenge with Ebola-ridden syringes.
With the various twists and turns, Preston transforms the usual work of nonfiction into
an unmistakable work of art. It is an undeniable tale of pure horror., leaving the reader
with the lingering, petrifying notion- "Could we possibly be the next victims of this
predator?"
Section IV: The Author
Richard Preston is the author of several books, including the nonfiction thriller, The
Hot Zone, and most recently, The Cobra Event. His success with his two books has put him
in the cutting edge of the emerging diseases and biotechnology areas. Preston is
presently recognized as one of the world's experts, and has been acknowledged by media
conduits such as ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, BBC, Newsweek, and The New York Times. Preston has
also won numerous awards, including the AAAS- Westinghouse Award and the McDermott Award
in the Arts from MIT.
Bibliography
Section I: Bibliography
Preston, Richard: The Hot Zone, Anchor Books, New York, 1994, ISBN 0-385-49522-6
Additional Biographical information taken from:
Biography: Richard Preston. AnnOnline. SaraDippity Productions, Inc. 2000,
http://www.annonline.com/interviews/980924/biography/html.
Section I: Bibliography
Preston, Richard: The Hot Zone, Anchor Books, New York, 1994, ISBN 0-385-49522-6
Additional Biographical information taken from:
Biography: Richard Preston. AnnOnline. SaraDippity Productions, Inc. 2000,
http://www.annonline.com/interviews/980924/biography/html.
Section I: Bibliography
Preston, Richard: The Hot Zone, Anchor Books, New York, 1994, ISBN 0-385-49522-6
Additional Biographical information taken from:
Biography: Richard Preston. AnnOnline. SaraDippity Productions, Inc. 2000,
http://www.annonline.com/interviews/980924/biography/html.