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463rd out of 596 books
—
1,318 voters
Level 4: Virus Hunters of the CDC
Sublimely equipped to survive, to propagate, to conquer, the virus is neither really alive nor really dead. Its dimensions are measured in molecules. It attacks by dismantling its human targets cell by cell. Level 4: Virus Hunters of the CDC is an intense, personal account of more than a quarter-century on the front lines - in the ultra high-tech "hot zone" lab that McCorm...more
Hardcover, 379 pages
Published
June 1st 1996
by Turner Publications Inc
(first published 1996)
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This book is a series of narratives of the authors’ experiences working for the Centers for Disease Control. Most involve field research on the sources and transmission of deadly viruses in Africa. The stories are interesting, but they lack a strong theme. The authors scatter a number of important observations through their stories, but I often wondered what point the authors were attempting to make by writing this book.
167 (description of the appalling conditions in Mama Yemo Hospital in Kinsha...more
167 (description of the appalling conditions in Mama Yemo Hospital in Kinsha...more
No lie: there are some slow parts to this episodic narrative of the hunt for some not-so-slow viruses (AIDS, Ebola, Lassa, and Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever among them). But that's only to be expected. The real world is not like Outbreak and there is years of research behind vaccinations, understanding the origins of a disease, and developing treatments. Lucky for the reader that McCormick and Fisher-Hoch kept the narrative as fast-moving as they did, because it could easily, easily, easily ge...more
Reading about the outbreaks and testing and specimen collection etc etc was interesting but the more I read, the more I hated the main character. He completely neglects his wife and kids to chase after his personal goals, which is even more disgusting considering he never would have had the chance to get this job if it wasn't for his wife getting him accepted into medical school. After neglecting his family for years, he cheats on his wife with someone else in the field (good thing his wife stay...more
So my criticisms for this book remain. It seems to be a direct response to "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston by continually saying things like "despite what popular fiction and non-fiction novels say Ebola does not 'melt the organs' they stay intact" which is fine. Maybe Preston exaggerated a bit, but the truth is that his writing is both compelling, exciting, and informative. This book suffers from too many narrative voices, as well as trying to be both clinical and compelling. It made me prett...more
I picked this book up because it was highly recommended by the instructor of my travel health course. It looked interesting, so why not?
First of all, you must remember that the authors of this book are two MD's. In collaboration with the editor, they actually write fairly well, but if you don't speak medical jargon (doctor, nurse, public health officials, medical scientists), beware of some parts of this book. It will be hard to follow.
Secondly, I was having problems with chronology when readin...more
First of all, you must remember that the authors of this book are two MD's. In collaboration with the editor, they actually write fairly well, but if you don't speak medical jargon (doctor, nurse, public health officials, medical scientists), beware of some parts of this book. It will be hard to follow.
Secondly, I was having problems with chronology when readin...more
Like The Hot Zone, except it's good.
In the hysteria following the Ebola outbreaks of the 1990s, some authors chose to make money riding a tidal wave of fear and hype. Others chose to write books that inform people.
Level 4 is solidly in the informing camp. It is not going to grab you by the throat, but it will give you an appreciation for the dangers and challenges faced by the scientists of the Center for Disease Control staff. You'll learn things, like how scientists have tracked the emergence...more
In the hysteria following the Ebola outbreaks of the 1990s, some authors chose to make money riding a tidal wave of fear and hype. Others chose to write books that inform people.
Level 4 is solidly in the informing camp. It is not going to grab you by the throat, but it will give you an appreciation for the dangers and challenges faced by the scientists of the Center for Disease Control staff. You'll learn things, like how scientists have tracked the emergence...more
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Co-written by two virus hunters who have worked for the CDC, this was an interesting, but not riveting, autobiographical account of their experiences doing fieldwork with viruses such as Ebola, Lassa, HIV, and Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever.
It reads somewhat like a summary of two combined diaries, which makes for a bit of repetition and a few instances of not knowing which author is narrating, but those annoyances were minor. After histories of how each author became involved in viral research,...more
It reads somewhat like a summary of two combined diaries, which makes for a bit of repetition and a few instances of not knowing which author is narrating, but those annoyances were minor. After histories of how each author became involved in viral research,...more
Overall, an enjoyable book... tries really hard to bring the subject down to a layman's level and mostly succeeds. However, suffers from an odd "Flow of consciousness" structure, scattering a timeline, chain of events, and even a good grasp of which one of the narratives (Joe's or Sue's) I was actually following all over the place. Could have really benefited from a more vicious editor.
Humanizes the epidemiology behind the non-fiction and fiction blockbusters but the two-person narrative style gets disjointed at times and breaks the flow of an otherwise fascinating tale of two lives dedicated to medicine and driven by passion for science.
Jul 07, 2012
Missy Tanja
added it
Great book. You learn to respect the virus' ability to replicate and repect mother nature. As a medical professional it is scary to think of all these unknown virus' that are learking in the smallest crevices of mother nature's devine.
This book single-handedly changed my career path while I was in college! Well written, interesting and insightful. Will give you a whole new respect for research scientists, virologists and epidemiologists!
this book covers the spread of disease through africa through the eyes of a CDC doctor. it stops when AIDS begins. it is a great story and extremely interesting. good for the adventurer.
Real life account of people who have worked with the CDC, having been all over the world looking for the infectious agents associated with outbreaks of exotic diseases. Tends to bounce around s bit, but still a great account of this work.
This book was great. I feel like I learned quite a bit about virology, but that isn't saying much since my last bio class was in 10th grade. The stories were interesting, compassionate, and devoid of ego. A fun non-fiction read.
This book was pretty interesting. It was hard to read at points though, as it is co-authored and often it was impossible to tell who was writing what. There are parts of the book where this is better than others.
This book was a great read! Followed along with Hot Zone, however this book is the actual account! Great book! Great topic! LOVED it!
Not as compelling as The Hot Zone, managed to get through it. Good, but a bit boring.
I was pretty enthralled by this book, until it became a love story...
Jul 20, 2010
Natalie
is currently reading it
Marvellous detective (true) stories of the virus world!
I was simultaneously terrified and transfixed.
For the science junkie
Great read. Information abouts, and the paces was never dull or boring.
This book remains memorable to me, two years after reading it, for really only one reason: a few sentences on the HIV researcher-physician who, around the time that I read this book (in late 2010), had just accepted me into his lab as an undergraduate researcher. While the overall content of this book was interesting, I feel that it wasn't executed as well as it could have been.
I read this book about 2 years ago....brainchilling. .....nerve wracking....and compulsive reading material....any nurse or docter needs to read this book....
I loved how the writers where able to incorporate a little bit of science, story telling and actual history of how all these viruses where discover and controled. Not only that but you get to travel throughout the world and learn about so many different cultures. It's a great read for the science geek. =0D
Good book- I loved getting to know how these people got to where they are now! I can't imagine what it would be like to look Ebola in the eye and not know what it was fully capable of yet!
A little dry, but entertaining for people who like diseases and microbiology, and it did put a human face on populations living with the constant threat of various fatal viral infections. My major complaint was keeping the players straight as the narration jumped between chapters.
I really enjoyed this one. I purchased after I saw a fascinating interview with the authors. (4 stars instead of 5 because my science degree & medical terminology classes made it an easy read.) I loaned it to my Step dad & he said it was too intense for him.
Aug 07, 2007
Scott
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in science
Shelves:
science
I enjoy reading this book but it isn't overwhelmingly engaging and the jumping between characters adds to an overall discontinuity in the book.
Worth a read for individuals who enjoy science and "virus hunters" (a bit over dramatized with that one).
Worth a read for individuals who enjoy science and "virus hunters" (a bit over dramatized with that one).
A memoir and an exploration of the investigations into Ebola, Lassa, and other nasty viruses. It's actually a very comforting book, since it details how scientist work towards understanding (and halting) the spread, and creating cures or treatments.
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