The Hot Zone

I just finished reading "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston.  It is a true account of the first discovery of the Ebola virus in Africa.  I wanted to read this book because of the current outbreak in Africa and because it is the first time a case was diagnosed here on American soil.  The first man diagnosed in Texas, came here from Africa knowing that he had the virus.  He came here purposefully to get better medical treatment.  He did not tell anyone at the hospital what he had and he then infected 2 nurses who cared for him.  If he had not died, he would have been facing criminal charges for knowingly spreading a deadly virus.

Before reading this book, I was beginning to fear the spread of the virus in America, but after finishing it, I am no longer afraid of that happening.  You do have to have some direct contact with bodily fluids in order to get infected.  There was one case of a different strain of the virus that broke out in Maryland, just outside Washington D.C. in a group of monkeys that were brought here to be sold for medical research.  All the monkeys died and at least 4 humans had direct exposure to the virus but they did not get sick.  Their blood tested positive but it did not have any affect on them.

The problem with viruses is that they mutate.  We won't know what the Ebola virus will turn into the next time it rears its ugly head but I do feel better that I have read this book and understand more about it.