The Hot Zone Themes

The power of nature is an ever-present theme throughout The Hot Zone. Ebola represents this power at its purest and most destructive—no matter how much human technology evolves, and no matter how much humans attempt to protect themselves, Ebola always finds a path for infection. In fact, Ebola even uses human innovation—in the form of faster and better modes of travel, like highways and planes—to spread faster and farther than ever before. An ancient…

With in-depth research and excruciating detail, Preston makes clear that the spread of viruses like Ebola and HIV is often due to human error. Whether eating contaminated animal meat, spreading infections through sexual intercourse, building highways that become pathways for epidemics, or sticking themselves with infected needles, humans are constantly exposing themselves to devastating and destructive diseases. By focusing on the Ebola outbreak in Reston, Virginia—a peaceful and quiet suburban neighborhood—Preston makes clear how fragile…

In The Hot Zone, Richard Preston chronicles the incredible medical and technological advances of the 20th and 21st centuries. Yet he also makes clear that human curiosity and advancement can go too far, and can in fact end up aiding destructive diseases such as Ebola. While human innovation is useful and life-saving, human hubris—excessive self-confidence, in this case involving innovation and curiosity—can be destructive and deadly. The Reston Primate Quarantine Unit provides a perfect…

Although much of The Hot Zone is pessimistic and even terrifying, one of its few bright spots is the consistent bravery and teamwork shown by researchers of Ebola, especially the army scientists and soldiers at USAMRIID. Nancy Jaax and her husband Jerry Jaax are prime examples, putting their lives at risk and sacrificing other aspects of their lives in order to ensure that others are safe from a potential Ebola outbreak. Jerry’s team of soldiers…