A book written by Richard Preston
Written when I was in Highschool
The novel is about the truth behind the twenty-three years of terrifying outbreaks of deadly incurable filoviruses. Based in real life, the story of these highly infectious viruses, Marburg and Ebola, began when it swept throughout Africa with a horrifying and extremely devastating range of effects, brutally killing 50% to 90% of their victims. The host (those infected) suffers from throbbing headache, pain behind the eyeballs, and backache. The victim also becomes nauseated, spikes a fever and vomits- ‘something black, speckled liquid and stew of tarry granules mixed with flesh red arterial blood’. The filoviruses did not remain in the rainforest of central Africa, they also appeared in the Reston Monkey House in the suburbs of Washington D.C. This potentially real-life story is scientifically investigated by military in Biosafety level, and a major biohazard operation is performed to control the spread of these viruses. Since there is no definite place where the virus came from, scientists, SWAT team and military soldiers theorized that the Kitum Cave in the rainforest of Mount Elgon is the major origin, and distinct monkeys are the carrier. They experimented on hundreds of dying monkeys to further support their hypotheses and at the same time search for a possible cure. The experiments, however, were not successful.
The plot is really fascinating. It was thrilling and would keep you wondering if such thing could really happen. While reading, you’ll feel like you’re a part of the social and health catastrophe that endangers the welfare of mankind. Every event is described efficiently; so detailed that you’ll feel how gross it is to have been infected by the fatal virus.
Charles Monet, the lead character, reminds me of my own recklessness. Moreover, he personifies a side of me who often forgets to think twice before arriving at a make-or-break decision. This characteristic often leads me to a face a negatively induced situation that affects the well-being of others. In the story, for instance, Charkes visited the Kitum Cave without sufficient knowledge about the possibility of being infected. He crept inside and touched carcasses of elephants and other animals, and even some shining crystals, not knowing that those were dangerous. Not just that, he posed a threat in the entire human race by the being a virus carrier.
The novel is about the truth behind the twenty-three years of terrifying outbreaks of deadly incurable filoviruses. Based in real life, the story of these highly infectious viruses, Marburg and Ebola, began when it swept throughout Africa with a horrifying and extremely devastating range of effects, brutally killing 50% to 90% of their victims. The host (those infected) suffers from throbbing headache, pain behind the eyeballs, and backache. The victim also becomes nauseated, spikes a fever and vomits- ‘something black, speckled liquid and stew of tarry granules mixed with flesh red arterial blood’. The filoviruses did not remain in the rainforest of central Africa, they also appeared in the Reston Monkey House in the suburbs of Washington D.C. This potentially real-life story is scientifically investigated by military in Biosafety level, and a major biohazard operation is performed to control the spread of these viruses. Since there is no definite place where the virus came from, scientists, SWAT team and military soldiers theorized that the Kitum Cave in the rainforest of Mount Elgon is the major origin, and distinct monkeys are the carrier. They experimented on hundreds of dying monkeys to further support their hypotheses and at the same time search for a possible cure. The experiments, however, were not successful.
The plot is really fascinating. It was thrilling and would keep you wondering if such thing could really happen. While reading, you’ll feel like you’re a part of the social and health catastrophe that endangers the welfare of mankind. Every event is described efficiently; so detailed that you’ll feel how gross it is to have been infected by the fatal virus.
Charles Monet, the lead character, reminds me of my own recklessness. Moreover, he personifies a side of me who often forgets to think twice before arriving at a make-or-break decision. This characteristic often leads me to a face a negatively induced situation that affects the well-being of others. In the story, for instance, Charkes visited the Kitum Cave without sufficient knowledge about the possibility of being infected. He crept inside and touched carcasses of elephants and other animals, and even some shining crystals, not knowing that those were dangerous. Not just that, he posed a threat in the entire human race by the being a virus carrier.
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