“A frightening and fascinating masterpiece of science reporting that reads like a detective story.” —Walter Isaacson
In 1976 a deadly virus emerged from the Congo forest. As swiftly as it came, it disappeared, leaving no trace. Over the four decades since, Ebola has emerged sporadically, each time to devastating effect. It can kill up to 90 percent of its victims. In between these outbreaks, it is untraceable, hiding deep in the jungle. The search is on to find Ebola’s elusive host animal. And until we find it, Ebola will continue to strike. Acclaimed science writer and explorer David Quammen first came near the virus while he was traveling in the jungles of Gabon, accompanied by local men whose village had been devastated by a recent outbreak. Here he tells the story of Ebola—its past, present, and its unknowable future.
Extracted from Spillover by David Quammen, updated and with additional material.
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“Quammen humbly claims this work is a partial view of the history and science of Ebola. That is so, yet it has the potential to vastly raise our awareness of new, ferocious viruses. Quammen provides the fundamentals—ecology, evolutionary history, natural cycles—of what we know about viruses, from the big picture to the various species.”
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Barnes&Noble.com, editorial review