The Hot Zone By Richard Preston Essay - 1498 Words

My unwavering interest in infectious diseases began in middle school when I read the book, The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston that intricately describes the Ebola virus. While the description of how the virus destroys the human body are unpleasant, this virus fascinated me. Consequently, in my spare time I read about other infectious diseases, such as cholera and tuberculosis, on Wikipedia and other web pages for my personal enjoyment. Years later, I participated in Princeton Model Congress in high school where I first learned about public health. Participants made mock congressional bills to be passed in a congress comprised of high school and college students in order to implement a national change. My mock bill advocated for the incorporation of HIV tests within annual physicals. The purpose of this bill was to ensure that more people became knowledgeable about their status and with this knowledge, HIV positive individuals can receive care faster and take proactive measures to preve nt infecting others with this virus. As I researched various facts about the HIV epidemic and how HIV impacts communities in Washington, D.C., my interest in public health evolved even though I did not know of the official name, public health. At the time, I wanted to be a lawyer and averted from anything science or math related. Yet, I cared about my community and I wanted to make a difference. I rediscovered my interest in public health in college as a biology major. During my Spelman CollegeShow MoreRelatedThe Hot Zone By Richard Preston2745 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction With horrifying details and graphic evidence that could scare even the toughest of people, Richard Preston tells the story of any American’s worst nightmare in his nonfiction novel; The Hot Zone. The words on the cover, â€Å"A Terrifying True Story†, make it more than clear to the reader that what they are about to read are some true facts that most would be hesitant to believe. Preston uses various shocking tales and interweaves factual information and scientific jargon to present his purposeRead MoreThe Hot Zone by Richard Preston1041 Words   |  4 Pages The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston, is a non-fiction story about the deadly virus (Ebola) spreading throughout the world. Certain strains of this virus are 90% fatal, and cause horrible symptoms, such as facial drooping, muscle aches, reddened eyes, and puking. The Ebola virus was traced back to a man named Charles Monet. After Monet, the virus spread rapidly, and it was leaving no survivors. Charles Monet was a Frenchman who moved to western Kenya, Africa, and worked for a sugar factory. Monet mostlyRead MoreBook Report: the Hot Zone by Richard Preston Essay684 Words   |  3 PagesBook Report: The Hot Zone by Richard Preston In October of l989, Macaque monkeys, housed at the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit in Reston, Virginia, began dying from a mysterious disease at an alarming rate. The monkeys, imported from the Philippines, were to be sold as laboratory animals. Twenty-nine of a shipment of one hundred died within a month. Dan Dalgard, the veterinarian who cared for the monkeys, feared they were dying from Simian Hemorrhagic Fever, a disease lethal to monkeys but harmlessRead MoreIsaiah Bouromphongsa . 2Nd Hour. Mrs. Klaren. 4/12/17.1013 Words   |  5 Pagesdestroy helper T cells of the immune system, causing a reduction of T cells. Ebola is an infectious and fatal disease that starts with fever and internal bleeding, spread through contact with infected bodily fluids by a filovirus. In The Hot Zone, Richard Preston compared the two viruses together often. HIV and Ebola both have similar methods of transmission, but Ebola is slightly easier to spread. The ways HIV and Ebola developed and came from the rain forest resemble each other. The fatality andRead MoreArgumentative Essay On The Hot Zone706 Words   |  3 PagesRichard Preston, the author of The Hot Zone, wanted us to believe two things. The first is that the viruses explained throughout the novel, such as Marburg and Ebola, are nature’s defense against the â€Å"infectious parasite† that the human race is on this planet. He emphasizes that the horrible viruses are the earth’s way of punishing the human race for taking over and for preventing their future expansion. The second thing he wanted us to believe is the idea that the Ebola virus could spread very rapidlyRead MoreGuinea Grass And The Mango Tree1627 Words   |  7 Pages Producers in an ecosystem are typically plants or other autotrophic organisms. The Hot Zone by Richard Preston implies that mango trees and African grasses serve as producers in their respective ecosystems. The mango tree is native to central Africa. Mango trees achieve heights of 90ft and widths of 80ft because of their deep-set roots and stable bases (Wanitprapha). The mango tree belongs to genus Mangifera and the most common mango species is Mangifera indica. The mango is a food source for frugivoresRead MoreEssay on Animal Rights442 Words   |  2 Pagesregulations to ensure a minimum of pain and suffering for the subjects(UNMC). Ultimately our overall understanding of diseases rests heavily upon studies of living systems, including animals. In the fight to save human lives, animals are vital. The Hot Zone reveals that animal research inadvertently led to an outbreak of Ebola near Washington DC. But this is a unique case where research has harmed humankind. The U.S. has recognized the importance of animal research and were it not for the Animals (Scientific)Read MoreDemon in the Freezer Overview1087 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The Demon in the Freezer is a 2002 non-fiction book on the biological weapon agents smallpox and anthrax and how the American government develops defensive measures against them. It was written by journalist Richard Preston, also author of the best-selling book The Hot Zone (1994), about outbreaks of Ebola virus in Africa and Reston, Virginia and the US governments response to them. The book is primarily an account of the Smallpox Eradication Program (1967–80), the ongoing perceptionRead More The Ebola Virus: History, Occurrences, and Effects Essay1235 Words   |  5 Pagesis the sound of his bowels opening at the sphincter and venting blood. The blood is mixed with his intestinal lining. He has sloughed off his gut. The lining of his intestines have come off and are being expelled along with huge amounts of blood (Preston 17). Ebola, a virus which acquires its name from the Ebola River (located in Zaire, Africa), first emerged in September 1976, when it erupted simultaneously in 55 villages near the headwaters of the river. It seemed to come out of nowhere, andRead MoreTayy1004 Words   |  5 PagesSTUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS for â€Å"The Hot Zone† by Richard Preston Please indicate the page number(s) where you find the answers for each question. Reading Section I: pages 1-94 PART I: â€Å"THE SHADOW OF MOUNT ELGON† Something in the Forest 1. Describe the life of Charles Monet. What were his â€Å"hobbies†? 2. Where is Mount Elgon? Describe the surrounding environment. 3. How may Charles Monet have been exposed to a level 4 virus? 4. Describe the symptoms experienced