Hot Zone Post 6

I read pages 400-411.  Richard Preston does a wonderful job closing the novel with remarks very similar to a science fiction movie or book.  It ends with the statement that Ebola continues to hide in the forests and will come out of hiding again someday.  This is a cool cut-off statement that forces you to think into the future and the events that might occur there.  Before the ending of the story, there is another segment about Kitum Cave.  There is another journey to Kitum Cave seemingly separate from the main part of the novel.  Space suits are used, but not to the extent of a full operation.  The goal is to discover possible virus sources, not find the exact sources of the  virus.  They never exactly figure out the source of the virus, but they do find many potential sources.  Just like in the movie Sahara, there is a large outbreak of virus.  All the countries and organizations strive to contain it.  In the novel, the organizations are  USAMRIID and the US army.  In the movie, the main organization is WHO or World Heath Organization.  As a prevailing theme, viruses are hard to kill and wipe off the planet.  In essence, it is virtually impossible with today's laboratory sciences.  If the US would get rid of all Polio particles, they would be left with nothing for vaccines in the case of a biological war.  When viruses do poke their heads out of the closet, most nations work together to contain them for the good of humanity.