The Hot Zone Reading Questions
Something in the Forest
1. Where is Mount Elgon? Describe the surrounding environment.
Mount Elgon is located on the border of Kenya and Uganda and is not far from Sudan. It is near the edge of Rift Valley, close to the Nzoia River. It is covered in rainforest.
Diagnosis
2. What is a filovirus?
FIloviruses are a family of viruses that comprises only Ebola and Marburg. They look like ropes or snakes, and when they destroy their host, they pour out and look like spaghetti.
Project Ebola
3. What does USAMRIID stand for?
USAMRIID stands for United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases.
4. Describe the brief history of Biological Weapons in the U.S.
During the beginning of WWII Army labs at Fort Detrick conducted research on offensive biological weapons. They were developing lethal strains of viruses and bacteria that could wipe out the enemy. Soon thereafter, Richard Nixon signed an executive order that banned the use of biological weapons for the United States. Since then, USAMRIID and other research facilities are used for peaceful purposes.
5. Describe the first known emergence of the Ebola virus. How did it get its name?
The first emergence of Ebola was in southern Sudan. A shopowner names Yu G. became infected with the deadly virus and died. Soon after, his associate became sick as well, probably from an exposure to Yu. Ebola got its name from the Ebola River that flows through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Ebola River
6. Describe Ebola Sudan.
Ebola Sudan (E. Sudan) originated in South Sudan between June and November 1976 and had a 60-90% kill rate. It is classified as Group V, order mononegvirales, family filiviridae, genus ebolavirus, species Sudan ebolavirus. Sympotoms start with headache and nausea, then proceed to fever and stomach pain. Next comes diarrhea and vomiting, and finally crashing and bleeding out.
7. Describe Ebola Zaire.
Ebola Zaire is classified as Group V, order mononegavirales, family filiviridae, genus ebolavirus, species Zaire ebolavirus. The first outbreak of this strain occurred in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; it has an 80-90% kill rateIt is a level 4 pathogen; biosafety level 4 gear must be worn when handling the virus. . E. Zaire causes hemorrhagic fever in humans and some other animals, including primates. It is believed to have originated in bats, then spread though "bushmeat" or body fluids. Symptoms begin with fever and muscle ache, then proceed onto nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. FInally, you crash and bleed out through all body cavities.
Cardinal
8. Explain why a virus may be more like a predator than a parasite.
A virus is more like a predator than a parasite because it can be virtually undetectable for a long period of time. Parasites, however, make their presence known by harming their host.
Chain of Command
9. What is mean by a "chain of command" in relation to biohazard work?
"Chain of command" refers to procedures and protocol. Information is first sent to the disease assessment division, where a decision is made. Then, based on the first division's decisions, it is sent off to the next stage.
The Mission
10. What are the Three Priorities?
1. Safety of the human population
2. Euthanasia of the animals with a minimum of suffering
3. Gathering scientific samples
Reconnaissance
11. Describe the conditions of the monkey house upon the team entering the building.
When the team entered the monkey house, all of the monkeys were quiet and subdued; normally they would be rowdy and jumpy. Those who were knocking on death's door were situated in the back of their cages and did not eat their biscuits. Nancy and Jerry notices that all of the monkeys still have their sharp canine teeth, usually filed down to prevent serious harm from bites.
A Bad Day
12. What significant event occurred on Wednesday, December 6th?
A monkey that wasn't properly euthanized escaped and almost contaminated Jerry Jaax. Thankfully, they caught the monkey and properly euthanized it.
13. What did the team do to the remaining monkeys that were still alive?
They euthanized all of the remaining monkeys.
The Most Dangerous Strain
14. Describe the Ebola Reston virus strain.
Ebola Reston is a strain of the Ebola virus that only affects primates. It is named after Reston, Virginia, where it was first discovered. A monkey research facility located there imported monkeys from the Philippines; the monkeys were infected with a strange disease that seemed to travel through the air. After most of the monkeys were either dead or completely infected, researchers finally concluded that this disease was a new strain of ebola that won't cause illness in humans.
15. Why is the Reston virus so much like Ebola Zaire, when Reston supposedly comes from Asia?
The virus may have originate in Africa and was somehow transferred to the Philippines in Asia, whether it be by airplane or wild animals caught there and brought back.
Kitum Cave
16. How did AIDS likely first appear?
AIDS likely first appeared in chimpanzees in Africa. Butchers who killed these animals had contact with their blood and body fluids, making them extremely likely to catch some sort of disease. From there, the virus spread from prostitutes along main roads spread it throughout the continent and the world.
17. Why have vaccines against HIV been unsuccessful?
The virus's latency and ability to avoid vaccines have contributed to there being no HIV/AIDS cure.
1. Where is Mount Elgon? Describe the surrounding environment.
Mount Elgon is located on the border of Kenya and Uganda and is not far from Sudan. It is near the edge of Rift Valley, close to the Nzoia River. It is covered in rainforest.
Diagnosis
2. What is a filovirus?
FIloviruses are a family of viruses that comprises only Ebola and Marburg. They look like ropes or snakes, and when they destroy their host, they pour out and look like spaghetti.
Project Ebola
3. What does USAMRIID stand for?
USAMRIID stands for United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases.
4. Describe the brief history of Biological Weapons in the U.S.
During the beginning of WWII Army labs at Fort Detrick conducted research on offensive biological weapons. They were developing lethal strains of viruses and bacteria that could wipe out the enemy. Soon thereafter, Richard Nixon signed an executive order that banned the use of biological weapons for the United States. Since then, USAMRIID and other research facilities are used for peaceful purposes.
5. Describe the first known emergence of the Ebola virus. How did it get its name?
The first emergence of Ebola was in southern Sudan. A shopowner names Yu G. became infected with the deadly virus and died. Soon after, his associate became sick as well, probably from an exposure to Yu. Ebola got its name from the Ebola River that flows through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Ebola River
6. Describe Ebola Sudan.
Ebola Sudan (E. Sudan) originated in South Sudan between June and November 1976 and had a 60-90% kill rate. It is classified as Group V, order mononegvirales, family filiviridae, genus ebolavirus, species Sudan ebolavirus. Sympotoms start with headache and nausea, then proceed to fever and stomach pain. Next comes diarrhea and vomiting, and finally crashing and bleeding out.
7. Describe Ebola Zaire.
Ebola Zaire is classified as Group V, order mononegavirales, family filiviridae, genus ebolavirus, species Zaire ebolavirus. The first outbreak of this strain occurred in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; it has an 80-90% kill rateIt is a level 4 pathogen; biosafety level 4 gear must be worn when handling the virus. . E. Zaire causes hemorrhagic fever in humans and some other animals, including primates. It is believed to have originated in bats, then spread though "bushmeat" or body fluids. Symptoms begin with fever and muscle ache, then proceed onto nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. FInally, you crash and bleed out through all body cavities.
Cardinal
8. Explain why a virus may be more like a predator than a parasite.
A virus is more like a predator than a parasite because it can be virtually undetectable for a long period of time. Parasites, however, make their presence known by harming their host.
Chain of Command
9. What is mean by a "chain of command" in relation to biohazard work?
"Chain of command" refers to procedures and protocol. Information is first sent to the disease assessment division, where a decision is made. Then, based on the first division's decisions, it is sent off to the next stage.
The Mission
10. What are the Three Priorities?
1. Safety of the human population
2. Euthanasia of the animals with a minimum of suffering
3. Gathering scientific samples
Reconnaissance
11. Describe the conditions of the monkey house upon the team entering the building.
When the team entered the monkey house, all of the monkeys were quiet and subdued; normally they would be rowdy and jumpy. Those who were knocking on death's door were situated in the back of their cages and did not eat their biscuits. Nancy and Jerry notices that all of the monkeys still have their sharp canine teeth, usually filed down to prevent serious harm from bites.
A Bad Day
12. What significant event occurred on Wednesday, December 6th?
A monkey that wasn't properly euthanized escaped and almost contaminated Jerry Jaax. Thankfully, they caught the monkey and properly euthanized it.
13. What did the team do to the remaining monkeys that were still alive?
They euthanized all of the remaining monkeys.
The Most Dangerous Strain
14. Describe the Ebola Reston virus strain.
Ebola Reston is a strain of the Ebola virus that only affects primates. It is named after Reston, Virginia, where it was first discovered. A monkey research facility located there imported monkeys from the Philippines; the monkeys were infected with a strange disease that seemed to travel through the air. After most of the monkeys were either dead or completely infected, researchers finally concluded that this disease was a new strain of ebola that won't cause illness in humans.
15. Why is the Reston virus so much like Ebola Zaire, when Reston supposedly comes from Asia?
The virus may have originate in Africa and was somehow transferred to the Philippines in Asia, whether it be by airplane or wild animals caught there and brought back.
Kitum Cave
16. How did AIDS likely first appear?
AIDS likely first appeared in chimpanzees in Africa. Butchers who killed these animals had contact with their blood and body fluids, making them extremely likely to catch some sort of disease. From there, the virus spread from prostitutes along main roads spread it throughout the continent and the world.
17. Why have vaccines against HIV been unsuccessful?
The virus's latency and ability to avoid vaccines have contributed to there being no HIV/AIDS cure.