The Hot Zone Characters

Nancy Jaax’s direct superior when she first begins working with Ebola, Tony Johnson eventually recommends her to become chief of pathology at USAMRIID. He works closely with Nancy in studying Ebola, and notes her bravery and her coolness under pressure.

The commander of USAMRIID, David Huxsoll is quickly notified by Peter Jahrling and C. J. Peters when they identify the Reston virus as Ebola. He also eventually brings Nancy Jaax into the discussion.

A scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, Dr. Tukei helps his friend Gene Johnson investigate the death of Peter Cardinal, and particularly its connection to Kitum Cave.

An American doctor with many high-profile patients in Kenya, Dr. Silverstein treats Shem Musoke and alerts the authorities to the potentially massive threat that the virus poses to the Kenyan public. He also treated Peter Cardinal.

Preston’s guide when he goes to Kitum Cave. Although Robin MacDonald knows little about the Ebola virus, he has a deep knowledge of the power and danger of nature.

After treating Charles Monet in Nairobi and being exposed to a huge amount of the infected man’s blood and vomit, Dr. Musoke becomes ill with Marburg. He eventually survives the sickness, although he remembers nothing about his near-death experience.

A close friend of Nancy Jaax, Ron Trotter assists her in dissecting the infected monkeys from Reston.

An employee of the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit, Frantig eventually begins vomiting outside the building during USAMRIID’s operation. Despite having been exposed to Ebola, however, he never falls ill.

Purdy experiences cardiac arrest after working in the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit, but like Milton Frantig, he never becomes ill from Ebola.

Another employee of the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit. Although he cuts his finger on a scalpel while dissecting an Ebola-infected monkey, he too never becomes ill from the virus.

A CDC doctor who accompanied Karl Johnson during his work in Zaire.

Shem Musoke’s physician in Nairobe. Antonio Bagshawe treated him while he was ill with the Ebola that he’d contracted from Charles Monet.

Preston’s friend, Frederic Grant accompanies him on his expedition to Kitum Cave along with Jamy Buchanan.

Along with Fred Grant, Jamy Buchanan is a part of the Preston’s journey to Kitum Cave.

Only eighteen, Nicole Berke nevertheless is included as part of the team commanded by Jerry Jaax that is tasked with euthanizing the monkeys of the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit.

Another young member of Jerry Jaax’s team that euthanizes the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit monkeys. Charlotte Godwin eventually performs necropsies on the infected monkeys, before leaving the facility along with Rhonda Williams and hiding from reporters.

A member of Jerry Jaax’s team that takes control of the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit. Rhonda Williams becomes alarmed when her spacesuit’s battery begins to die (which would leave her without oxygen in the Ebola-contaminated building). After having her battery replaced, she leaves the facility with Charlotte Godwin.

An Army scientist who attempts to develop a rapid test for Ebola to determine whether people are infected.

A soldier at USAMRIID whom Jerry Jaax does not send into the Reston primate Quarantine Unit because she is pregnant, and he knows the devastating effects that Ebola has on pregnant women.

This nameless woman accompanies Charles Monet to Kitum Cave, and sleeps with him. It is unclear, however, whether she falls ill along with him, as no one remembers who she is.

A British veterinarian who recalls the corrupt and careless corporate practices that may have led to the 1967 Marburg outbreak in Germany.

An employee of the Behring Works vaccine factory in Germany who becomes infected in 1967 by the monkeys that the factory uses. He is the first known human victim of Marburg.

An employee of the Behring Works vaccine factory in Germany who contracted Marburg.

A Behring Works vaccine factory employee who broke a contaminated test tube and subsequently became infected with Marburg.

A man who became infected with Marburg in Germany, and eventually died of a brain hemorrhage.

The doctor who cared for Mayinga N. when she contracted Ebola. Despite treating Mayinga without a mask, Dr. Isaäcson never contracted Ebola.

A CDC virologist who was once married to Karl Johnson, and who studied Ebola with him.

The maximum leader of Zaire, the president activates his army after hearing about Mayinga N.’s infection and its potential to spread.

Nancy Jaax’s father, who falls terribly ill with cancer at the same time as the Reston Primate Quarantine Unit crisis begins. Nancy does not travel home for his death because she feels doing so would mean deserting her post.

– Nancy and Jerry Jaax’s daughter, and an avid gymnast.

Introverted and independent, Jaison is Nancy and Jerry Jaax’s son.

A businessman from Kansas City and Jerry Jaax’s beloved brother, John Jaax’s mysterious murder plunges Nancy Jaax’s husband into a deep and lasting depression.

Jerry and John Jaax’s mother. Ada is still grieving for her son’s mysterious and untimely death.

An army buddy of Jerry Jaax’s, Thomas Amen is one of the first soldiers (along with Jerry) to enter the infected Reston Primate Quarantine Facility.

A trusted member of Jerry Jaax’s USAMRIID team that takes control of the Reston Primate Quarantine Facility, Mark (along with Jerry) is one of the first soldiers to put on a spacesuit. He is also a former Green Beret scuba diver, and is now an Army veterinarian.

A member of Jerry Jaax’s Reston Primate Quarantine Facility team, Sergeant Klages discovers a freezer full of frozen infected monkey corpses.

A CDC doctor who traveled to Sudan along with Joe McCormick.

The surgeon at Nairobi Hospital who leads the operation on the infected Dr. Shem Musoke.

An employee of a Belgian mission in Zaire, and the first known victim of Ebola Zaire.

Another victim of the strain of Ebola Zaire contracted by the schoolteacher.

A friend of Sister M. E. who also contracted Ebola Zaire and died.

A Sudanese shopkeeper who was the first known patient to contract Ebola Sudan.

A co-worker of Yu. G. who contracted Ebola Sudan. Because of his popularity, he infected many others.

A civilian animal expert, Mehrl Gibson is a member of Jerry Jaax’s USAMRIID team.

An officer on Jerry Jaax’s USAMRIID team.

Another officer on Jerry Jaax’s USAMRIID team.

Another officer on Jerry Jaax’s USAMRIID team.

A man who died of Ebola Sudan, and whose blood USAMRIID possesses.

An expert on elephant behavior, Iain Redmond lived in Kitum Cave for three months to be closer to an elephant herd, but he never contracted Marburg.

A civilian technician at USAMRIID, Joan Rhoderick works with blood samples from Monkey O53, and notices that there is something strange about them.

A researcher in the C.D.C.’s Special Pathogens Branch who analyzes the genetics of Ebola Zaire and Ebola Reston along with Heinz Feldmann.

A researcher in the C.D.C.’s Special Pathogens Branch who analyzes the genetics of Ebola Zaire and Ebola Reston along with Anthony Sanchez.

John Jaax’s former business partner, John Weaver is suspected of murdering Jerry Jaax’s brother’s.

The detective who investigates John Jaax’s death.

Robin MacDonald’s wife and business partner, she accompanies the group to Kitum Cave.

One of Robin and Carrie MacDonald’s safari staff on the journey to Kitum Cave.

One of Robin and Carrie MacDonald’s safari staff on the journey to Kitum Cave.

One of Robin and Carrie MacDonald’s safari staff safari staff on the journey to Kitum Cave.

The Mount Elgon guard assigned to protect the Preston’s traveling party from poachers.

Charles Monet’s housekeeper.

Robin MacDonald’s father, and a famous professional hunter in Africa.

The president of Kenya, and a patient of Dr. David Silverstein.

An English noblewoman, and a patient of Dr. David Silverstein.

An aviator and memoirist from East Africa, and a patient of Dr. David Silverstein.

The monkey dissected by Dan Dalgard, samples from which eventually are sent to USAMRIID and examined by Peter Jahrling, Joan Roderick, and Thomas Geisbert.

An African parrot, and Nancy Jaax’s pet.

A python, and Nancy Jaax’s pet. At one point he escapes and then surprises Nancy in her study.