The Scary Truth on Filoviradae
A Study in Filoviruses
Ever since I can remember, I have been a true fan of medical mysteries and the works of the infamous Michael Crichton and Richard Preston. Although Crichton was a prolific author and published bestseller after bestseller, he is most commonly remembered by my generation for his dinosaur adventure titled Jurassic Park, that launched a franchise and is still lauded today as a groundbreaking look at genetic modification at a time when the possibilities were just beginning to surface and the dangers that lay hidden beneath the surface. Preston, although perhaps lesser known, wrote the book that began my true interest in this subject, titled The Hot Zone. In this paper, I will be referencing and expounding upon a few of their novels and a film that shocked the nation and then drifted softly into the night. From the Andromeda Strain to Outbreak and ending with the struggle of humanity against Filoviruses today, this paper will delve into the dark and scary world of viruses, how little we really know about their origins, and exactly how devastating a lack of preparation can be. In the first section, I will review the history of Crichton’s and Preston’s works and the subsequent films and “panic” that followed as well as a peaked interest in the subject of viruses. The next section will describe the history of the deadliest viruses in human history and the precautions developed by the Centers for Disease Control to prevent the epidemic spread. Following this will be the startling revelation of the strong existence of Filoviruses in the world today and their tragic impact. In summary, I will challenge the reader to consider the life path of the virus and what may be lurking just around the corner.
THE EARLY WORKS Published in 1969, The Andromeda Strain initially reads like your typical cheesy science fiction thriller that only your average teenage boy was sure to read. Then people began to take notice-Crichton wrote in a style that
Ever since I can remember, I have been a true fan of medical mysteries and the works of the infamous Michael Crichton and Richard Preston. Although Crichton was a prolific author and published bestseller after bestseller, he is most commonly remembered by my generation for his dinosaur adventure titled Jurassic Park, that launched a franchise and is still lauded today as a groundbreaking look at genetic modification at a time when the possibilities were just beginning to surface and the dangers that lay hidden beneath the surface. Preston, although perhaps lesser known, wrote the book that began my true interest in this subject, titled The Hot Zone. In this paper, I will be referencing and expounding upon a few of their novels and a film that shocked the nation and then drifted softly into the night. From the Andromeda Strain to Outbreak and ending with the struggle of humanity against Filoviruses today, this paper will delve into the dark and scary world of viruses, how little we really know about their origins, and exactly how devastating a lack of preparation can be. In the first section, I will review the history of Crichton’s and Preston’s works and the subsequent films and “panic” that followed as well as a peaked interest in the subject of viruses. The next section will describe the history of the deadliest viruses in human history and the precautions developed by the Centers for Disease Control to prevent the epidemic spread. Following this will be the startling revelation of the strong existence of Filoviruses in the world today and their tragic impact. In summary, I will challenge the reader to consider the life path of the virus and what may be lurking just around the corner.
THE EARLY WORKS Published in 1969, The Andromeda Strain initially reads like your typical cheesy science fiction thriller that only your average teenage boy was sure to read. Then people began to take notice-Crichton wrote in a style that