Free Essays on Hot Zone

The book â€Å"The Hot Zone† written by Richard Preston is a true story which describes a highly infections, deadly virus from the central rain forest in Africa. The disease killed 90% of its victims and modern medicine was defenseless against it. The virus suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. In 1989, a monkey-importing company with a primate quarantine unit in Reston, Virginia noticed that the monkeys were dying off at an alarming rate and with unusual symptoms. When word got out that the virus was Ebola, all hell broke loose. The U.S. Army was put in charge of the mess. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists were sent in to stop the outbreak of the exotic â€Å"hot† virus. The job was complicated and very hazardous. Therefore, all involved wore special biological space suits. The job was to enter the monkey house or the hot zone, kill each monkey, and retrieve tissue samples. The operation had to be conducted in secret so as to prevent a nationwide panic. The job was a success. The virus, now known as Ebola Reston turned out to not affect the human race. However, this is hardly good news. Viruses mutate rapidly, and can easily be brought to the United States. The book begins with a very graphic description of the destruction of the human body by a filovirus. The body liquefies, spilling out billions of copies of the deadly virus, which can take on any number of lethal forms. Although there have only been minor outbreaks, the domino effect could create a worldwide catastrophe. The Ebola virus is just one of the many exotic â€Å"hot† viruses that Preston is concerned about. He gives accounts of the appearance of other rare and lethal viruses that have affected the human race. Preston visited Kitum Cave in Kenya, the place where scientists believe is the source of all four identified filoviruses. Although these viruses are a continent away, they are also but a plane ride away.... Free Essays on Hot Zone Free Essays on Hot Zone The book â€Å"The Hot Zone† written by Richard Preston is a true story which describes a highly infections, deadly virus from the central rain forest in Africa. The disease killed 90% of its victims and modern medicine was defenseless against it. The virus suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. In 1989, a monkey-importing company with a primate quarantine unit in Reston, Virginia noticed that the monkeys were dying off at an alarming rate and with unusual symptoms. When word got out that the virus was Ebola, all hell broke loose. The U.S. Army was put in charge of the mess. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists were sent in to stop the outbreak of the exotic â€Å"hot† virus. The job was complicated and very hazardous. Therefore, all involved wore special biological space suits. The job was to enter the monkey house or the hot zone, kill each monkey, and retrieve tissue samples. The operation had to be conducted in secret so as to prevent a nationwide panic. The job was a success. The virus, now known as Ebola Reston turned out to not affect the human race. However, this is hardly good news. Viruses mutate rapidly, and can easily be brought to the United States. The book begins with a very graphic description of the destruction of the human body by a filovirus. The body liquefies, spilling out billions of copies of the deadly virus, which can take on any number of lethal forms. Although there have only been minor outbreaks, the domino effect could create a worldwide catastrophe. The Ebola virus is just one of the many exotic â€Å"hot† viruses that Preston is concerned about. He gives accounts of the appearance of other rare and lethal viruses that have affected the human race. Preston visited Kitum Cave in Kenya, the place where scientists believe is the source of all four identified filoviruses. Although these viruses are a continent away, they are also but a plane ride away.... Free Essays on Hot Zone The Hot Zone & Outbreak â€Å"The kill rate in humans infected with Ebola Zaire is 9 out of 10. Ninety percent of the people who come down with Ebola Zaire die of it. Ebola Zaire is a slate wiper in humans† (Preston 38). With these words, Richard Preston in his book The Hot Zone begins to raise real and serious questions about the nature of infectious diseases in society today. In the same way, Robin Cook raises real and serious questions about infectious diseases in his novel Outbreak. Using creative examples of characterization, sensory imagery, and symbolism, Preston and Cook are accurately able to reveal the theme of infectious diseases. Thus, while the concern of infectious diseases remains, better understanding of it comes from seeing it illustrated so masterfully in Preston’s The Hot Zone and in Cook’s Outbreak. Characterization is a tool that is necessary to create a well-written piece of literature. It is important for readers to be able to relate to characters. Each reader must be able to say â€Å"I know somebody just like that†, or, â€Å"I’m just like that†. Readers develop a relationship with characters while they read and begin to feel their pain or happiness. In Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone, this type of characterization is displayed. In the character of Nancy Jaax, readers experience her struggle with the Ebola virus and its handling as well as her interference of work with family life. Nancy has a maid to come in and take care of her children because she does not have the time to take care of them due to the fact that both her and her husband are enlisted in the Army as veterinarians. Even if a reader is not in this type of situation, cases like this have been exploited through media so well that everyone either has experienced it or known som eone who has. Characterization such as this is why The Hot Zone was a best seller. Characterization is also mastered in Robin Cook’s Outbreak....