The Hot Zone/The Plague Year

[Hasse]

EdRegis wrote that:

"Anyone thinking that Marburg and/or Ebola constitute a serious public 
health problem is advised to read...Malcolm Gladwells, THe Plague Year..."

I think that anybody with a serious interest in infectious diseases 
should read that article. It's a vert well written piece, with many good
points about fear, flash media and apocalypse prophets. There's critizism 
that I share - for ex: why has "The Coming Plague" so much about disasterous
diseases - 592 pages! - and only a short chapter called 'Searching for 
Solutions" and even that chapter is rather pessimistic and doesn't 
exactly fill the reader with the feeling that here's some really
good possibilities - now let's go out and fight the bugs!

I like to say it again - it's a VERY interesting article, definitely 
worth reading. But, it's also an article that deserves to be discussed. 

I'm just now very busy with my xenotransplantation article, but for you 
EdRegis and the others: I'll be back with a critical view of Malcolm 
Gladwell's article, before spring is here.

Until then, don't fall on your knees for a good writer that mixes relevant
critisism with magic tricks conservatism.

...

And about Ebola: Anyone studying for to become a virologist that thinks 
that Marburg and/or Ebola doesn't constitute a serious public health problem
should maybe concider a carrier at The New Republic insteed.


Hasta la vista,

 -Hans Andersson,NYC
  hasse at panix.com