In his new book “Ebola: The Natural and Human History of a Deadly Virus,” journalist David Quammen is shying away from the horrifying approach writers like Richard Preston have taken with “The Hot Zone.” He doesn’t, however, deny the reality of the situation. He just puts reality and the cultural response into a slightly less apocalyptic perspective, according to The New York Times review.
“Much of this book reads like a detective story, tracing the intrepid efforts of microbe hunters to understand how this dangerous virus works — the dynamics of transmission, the geographical pattern of outbreaks — and possible approaches to treatment,” writes Michiko Kakutani. “There are some harrowing accounts of forays by scientists into disease-ridden (and cobra-infested) bat caves in Uganda, and an equally chilling story about an infectious-disease research scientist who accidentally stuck herself with a syringe that she’d been using to inject Ebola-ridden mice.”
The short read is pulled from his 2012 book “Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic,” with some current updates. In the midst of Ebola news overload, it could be worthwhile for some to take the time to learn about the historical context of the disease provided by a beautiful writer.
Here are some more current Ebola headlines:
Dallas nurse Amber Vinson free of Ebola virus
– Vinson contracted the virus after treating Thomas Eric Duncan, but as of Tuesday night is testing negative for Ebola after treatment at Emory University Hospital.
21-day watch on all travelers come from Ebola-hit West African countries
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
– All travelers who have visited Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone will be required to report temperatures daily for three weeks. Rules will go into effect on Monday.
NBC News freelance reporter declared free of Ebola [Video]
Ashoka Mukpo contracted Ebola while working in Liberia and was declared virus-free Tuesday after treatment in the United States.
Connecticut quarantines 9 people for Ebola watch
– Though not showing symptoms, 9 individuals including 3 Yale students had contact with the virus and will be monitored daily.
[Photo from flickr user NIAID]
