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The Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe was a very intriguing book to read because it presents an interesting view of the large and diverse microbe world Humans often think that they are the predominant species in the world, but until they can control and unearth all existing microbes, prokaryotes and viruses are the most important forms of life on Earth. Dr. Wolfe makes an important point about the impact of history on the spread of diseases around the world. When ancient humans separated from their common ancestor, they experienced a population bottleneck, which reduced their microbial diversity and allowed them to begin hunting and cooking. The effects of branching off from chimpanzees and bonobos surely enabled humans to create sophisticated societies and new innovations, but they also caused more vulnerability to viruses. For instance, technological advancements, such as transportation, led to more interactions among people all over the world, which resulted in the exchange of cultural ideas and more importantly, microbes. Although these advancements have negative aspects, technology has provided the DNA microarray chip and digital epidemiology, tools used to further understandings of genetic makeup and behaviors of viruses. All in all, I was fascinated by the dedication of Dr. Wolfe and other biologists to research and track down viruses in order to understand the origins of a certain virus and to possibly predict and prevent future pandemics. –Grace Kim
In A Viral Storm, Nathan Wolfe manages to vivididly explain the actions and effects of microbes in a comprehensible way. In this novel it is obvious that Wolfe is genuinely passionate about virology, and he has a wealth of knowledge on this topic. He had stories to tell about many major viruses that have affected humans for years, and he talks about the role of evolution in the spread of microbes. He's even had first-hand experiences with many of the viruses he's talked about. His personal stories and history lessons make a great impact on the issues he is explaining by allowing readers to envision the effects of various viruses, even if they have never dealt with them before. He expains how technology has impacted the prevention of deadly microbes. The threat of bioerror and bioterror is also mentioned, which are adverse effects of the improvement of our knowledge of microbes. Although some parts of the novel seemed slightly repetitive, I learned a lot from it. It exemplifies the importance of the microbes that are always around us and inside of us which we might not always think about. Aaliyah Pauyo
Ethan Koop- What made this book stand out to me was how well it put into perspective the magnitude of the microbial presence among us as well as the danger that it presents in so many forms and fashions to everyone around the globe. He thoroughly explained all the factors that made viruses such an impending problem, such as our growing proximity to wild animals, and our lack of viral history that makes us vulnerable to them, as well as our near complete interconnection around the world. The whole book was setting the stage for this pandemic that we are careening into as a global community, with these dangers being statistically bound to happen, as its only a matter of time before all the possibilities aline to create the worst virus imaginable. But then, unlike most academic expositions of this kind, he went on to explain what he personally was doing to prevent it, and what the scientific community needed in his opinion. All of this made the whole read far more real than it just being some faceless scientist's claims of apocalypse.
Rachel Silver The Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe is a complex non-fiction book which explores the world of viruses and other microbes. Although people can not see them, microbes are thriving everywhere. They are on the surfaces of objects, in the air, in the water, and inside organisms including humans. All species of organisms have a microbial repertoire, which includes all the microbes that can infect a particular species. The microbial repertoire of humans had significant changes during the time when our ancestors began to hunt. The exposure to other species’s microbes from hunting allowed new microbes, such as the HIV virus, to infect our ancestors and alter the microbial repertoire of humans. Another factor that exposed humans to more viruses is the domestication of other animals. The domestication of animals put humans in contact with the viruses of wild animals. In modern times, people rarely have to worry about the people hunting their meat or domesticating animals and plants because of the protective bubble of new technology innovations. All of our new technology, transportation, and medical advances can be both good or bad in terms of spreading viruses. On one hand, all this connection to each other can make it simpler for viruses to spread faster. Easier transportation causes people to be able to travel farther and more often. As a result, more people come in contact with more viruses from more places. Medically speaking, viruses are quickly shared and swapped due to procedures like blood transfusions and organ transplants. On the other hand, these new advances can also help people track down and prevent viruses from spreading. For instance, recent studies prove that social media can show signs of people who may be infected with a virus. However, the one of the most significant factors in preventing pandemics or future outbreaks of a deadly virus is public awareness. People need to be conscious of the unseen life around them, and take simple precautions to prevent the spread of microbes.
Review: In The Viral Storm, Nathan Wolfe describes the impact the modern hunting, transportation, and overall interconnected world has on the ability for viruses to spread and infect people in new ways. The evolution of humans and our early ancestor’s behaviors has created interesting relationships with various microbes. The beginning of hunting has played a large role in transferring viruses from animals to people. Also, the book explains how the domestication of animals is another way that viruses in wild animals have been introduced to humans. Among human populations, viruses are able to easily spread due to the multiple transportation systems that allow people to frequently move into and out of different locations. Additionally, current medical procedures, like blood transfusions and organ implants, have lead to serious cases in which a virus can be moved between individuals. Along with discussing the remarkable ability for viruses to effectively spread within our globally connected societies, the book also touches on the potential ways to predict pandemics before they happen. In order to predict future pandemics, scientists are discovering new methods that involve the use of modern technology like cell phones, google, and social media. The book ultimately shows that though the modern world has created multiple new ways for harmful viruses to spread, there are also promising methods being developed for people to fight back.
The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age, explains the origins of some of the world's most deadly viruses while explaining the link between modern life and global pandemic threats. Wolfe also brings up the development or remedies/medicines with technology that could prevent possible threats. He tells the story of how viruses and human beings have evolved side-by-side through history, how deadly viruses like HIV, swine flu, and bird flu almost wiped out life as we know it in the past, and why modern life has made us vulnerable to the threat of a global pandemic. Wolfe explains the science clearly and the evidence of our increasing vulnerability to pandemics speaks for itself. He intriguingly explained the role of hunting and eating wild game that introduced new diseases into the human body, and stated that the more closely related a hunter and his prey are, the more likely a microbe will be able to adapt to its new host. The final chapters in the book Wolfe explains the details of preventing pandemics before they arise and attack the population, which leads us to thinking one question. How can we prevent and possibly remove a virus that risks upon the the survival of humanity? Wolfe excels and intrigues his readers into reading more about the world of pandemics and it's possible vaccinations.
Cat Rose The Viral Storm is divided into three separate parts: Gathering Clouds, The Tempest, and The Forecast. Each part helps support a specific idea. Gathering Clouds focuses on the discovery and diversity of microbial organisms, especially viruses and how they manipulate their environment (any life) in order to spread and reproduce. It explains that hunting was an adaptation of the common ancestor of humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos, and that while hunting provides added calories to the species’ diets, it also puts the hunting species in contact with all of the microbes contained within their prey. The very act of hunting animals increases our risk for cross-special disease. Additionally, the book explains that due to experiencing near extinction early in our history, many of the diseases that had evolved with humans were wiped away, weakening our immune systems and making us more vulnerable to these same diseases in the modern age. The domestication of animals provides a means for diseases to enter into humans. These factors make for an ideal environment for a virus to inter and devastate humans. The Tempest defines a pandemic as a disease with victims in all inhabited continents and investigates the origins of many diseases. Many deadly diseases, for example, come directly from animals to a single human and does not have the capacity to spread, and is therefore not a pandemic. Some, however, are able to adapt from spreading mainly from animals to humans, to purely human infection. When a disease is able to rapidly spread from human to human, it can be considered a pandemic. It also explores the effects of human interconnectivity on viral spread; with rapid travel and communication viruses are able to spread more quickly before being detected. Roads and other methods of travel connect remote regions with the rest of the world, increasing the potential for a new virus to spread from once-isolated populations. Medical breakthroughs provide a new rout for microbes to enter the human body: organ transplants and blood transfusions, and vaccinations with unsterilized needles provide highways into the human body. The immediate access to viruses and other forms of microbes to many increases the risk of bioterror events. In these ways are viruses able to wreak havoc on humans. The Forecast, offers a much more hopeful view of viruses. It devotes time to mentioning the beneficial microbial life upon which we depend: bacteria in our intestines and weakened viruses in vaccines(such as smallpox), to name a few. It also paints a picture of a future in which human villages which are likely to contract new viruses are monitored for threats with the intent of stopping them before they spread. It hints that in the future, data such as Google searches and text messages may help to predict the sorts of viruses infecting humans, and states that eventually modern medicine and virologists may be able to eradicate infectious disease entirely, making the word “pandemic” obsolete.
In The Viral Storm, biologist Nathan Wolfe explains the history of deadly viruses around the world while also showing how they are spread. He provides us with knowledge about a part of life that we barely know about and provides his own life experiences as a way for us to connect. We as humans think we're the greatest species on Earth however viruses have the potential to cause our downfall. In this day and age of travel and communication, viruses could spread worldwide and we could all be in danger. This is where scientists like Wolfe come in. He has dedicates his time to learning as much as he can about viruses so he can help give us the information that we need. The book openly states that there will be another global pandemic but he provides hope that we will be able to respond proactively and cause minimal damage. The book is written in three main sections: Gathering Clouds, The Tempest, and The Forecast. In Gathering Clouds, Wolfe talked about the mass discovery of micro organisms and how hunting has made us more vulnerable to contact with them. The Tempest talks about what exactly a pandemic is. Pandemics are when diseases have the compatability to spread through contact which is very dangerous now considering how we travel now. Lastly, The Forecast provides an optimistic view on viruses and gives hope that in the future we will be able to stop viruses before they spread and hint that data such as Google Searches and texting will allow people to predict if a virus is infecting humans. Nathan Wolfe's first person encounters and liberal views allow us to submerge into the world of viruses and come out with a more open mind about where we sit in the world. If we are not careful, our population will all become infected.
The Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe elaborates on how pandemics form, how they spread, and what we can do to prevent them. In the first section of the book described how viruses spread from animal to human and from human to human via hunting and domestication of animals. In the next section of the book, Nathan Wolfe states that, because our world is so interconnected, viruses can easily become pandemics because they can be transported to other countries by means of humans. In the final chapters of the book, the author gives many ways of how people are fighting against viruses with technology and the sheer interconnectedness that is the 21st century. He explains that we are now using SMS messaging to send messages from local clinics to the main hospitals in countries where pandemics could most likely happen. He also mentions the use of small groups known as sentinels which are groups of people who are most likely going to be the beginnings of a pandemic. Basically this book is an "All you need to know" about the beginning, middle, and end of pandemics.
Judy Dinh!! The Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe is a mixture between an autobiography and a textbook.Wolf combines his personal recollections with facts, and that juxtaposition is a bit odd to me. Even so, these experiences make the statements about viruses that more realistic to the reader.He successfully gives enough background on microbes to allow the reader to understand the complex ideas that are presented later in the book.He mentions many examples of diseases and situations in which viruses have impact other organisms.To me,Wolfe’s own interests are very apparent. Anyone can see that Wolfe has dealt with his fair share of viruses. He has researched in many labs all over the world. He makes this very evident and reiterates the same ideas in every chapter.He constantly reminds the reader that microbes spread and that microbes are powerful through stories such as the development of hunting animals. Even though these stories were interesting, I already knew what his main point was before he stated it. Nonetheless, Wolfe still provides insight on microbes. He successfully described the role viruses played throughout history. For example,Wolfe mentions that viruses have a reservoir which is where the virus originates. I found it interesting how these microbes were spread from animal to eventually human throughout many years. Furthermore, it is common knowledge that viruses can kill humans;numerous amounts of people die from viral diseases. On the other hand, they also help to keep equilibrium in the world by killing bacteria. The idea of a viral pandemic in today’s world seems improbable to the average person,yet Wolfe is able to show the importance of viruses and how heavily they can affect humans in modern times too. Wolfe describes the battle of research against these microbes. While there is still much unknown about viruses, we attempt to combat them hence making some progress.
The viral storm by Nathan Wolfe is a quite daunting book for the first hundred and so pages. As Wolfe is able paint the picture of a world dominated by not humans, but instead viruses: an infectious agent that in some cases isn’t even considered to be a live organism. As he takes us through the major episodes of human interactions with viruses that are ever evolving, most of the stories have been about us as a species dancing within the grasp of these micro-agents. It is only recently in our history that we were able to start recognizing and develop techniques to avoid becoming a manufacturing factory of these potentially deadly viruses. Nathan Wolfe discusses that the viral threat is all around us, as they transform themselves from residents of another species until they jump to humans, such as the influenza virus that transfers from a variety of bird and mammalian species of animals, HIV that was gained through human interaction with monkeys, and SARS that came from pigs to cause a global panic in 2003 when it started killing people in the Guangdong province in China. As with explaining the viral dominance he also shared his first hand experience with them, he writes about his experiences when he became infected with diseases as he traveled the world researching and diagnosing newly found infecting agents that could potentially become a human threat. This book makes the reader very appreciative of the CDC and WHO, explaining that the fate of the world maybe dependent on these researchers and virologists on finding and controlling these agents. Though very systematic, there are always too many varieties of virus, bacteria, protozoa, and prions that may as well mean the end of our species. His ending of an optimistic future may not be the case, and anyone who reads book definitely will become more conscious of their environment and the choices they make, as the threat of a still unknown agent(s) looms over us. -Koei Howell
After reading The Viral Storm, I realize how insignificant and powerless I am compared to microbes. According to one of Beyonce’s songs, Girls run the world, but Nathan Wolfe has made me believe otherwise. I never realized how powerful microbes were, and after reading this book, I am actually really terrified of them. It is also interesting to learn how viruses have different features that allow them to dominate this planet. One part that really sticks out to me is when Mr. Wolfe talks about how sometimes viruses can stay in the body. He then goes on to say that we won’t even know it’s in our body because the virus doesn’t create any visible symptoms, so we will not test to see what the virus is because we don’t even know it is there. That is kind of creepy to read because a virus just nesting inside my person without doing much seems weird. What even scares me more is when he talks about how viruses are smart enough to have the ability to stay in animal reservoirs and in humans, so if we happen to vaccinate all the humans, that would not necessarily eradicate the virus because the virus would reside in the animals. Then one day the virus could maybe do what the two viruses in the red-capped mangabey and spot-nosed guenon did to create something new, jump from the animals to the humans, and infect us all again. Overall, the book was really informative, and it really opened my eyes to the big world of microbes.
This book, The Viral Storm, is a truly eye-opening work by Dr. Nathan Wolfe. It describes in detail the various ways we, as the human race, affect and are affected by microbes. Microbes are omnipresent, and oftentimes, we spend little time in our daily lives simply pondering how widespread they are. It is shocking to think that although humans seem to be the dominant species on this planet, there is a completely different world that is dominated by multitudes of these microscopic creatures. One of the most heavily discussed microbes in this book are viruses, and it’s hard to believe that they are responsible for some illnesses, diseases, and bodily processes that we are affected by each day. Although nonliving, they work efficiently and systematically by using various features in order to infiltrate host bodies and become widespread. This novel sheds light on the various ways microbes spread and the amazing characteristics that allow them to do so in such a proficient manner. Microbes come into contact with us throughout our day, and I found myself thinking about everything I was doing on a microscopic scale. I found it refreshing that Wolfe reinforced during the course of the book that humans are just other animals. Our close relatives and animals that we come into contact with daily are also responsible for many of the microbes we encounter, and occasionally, viruses will transfer from these animals to us. If the animal is similar to us, such as a chimpanzee, it will be easier for the virus to modify itself to fit us. Wolfe also discusses how the developments and discoveries of early humans led to changes in the ways we interact with microbes. On the other hand, he touches on the ways that the current technology and medical procedures in developing and developed areas affect our relationships with microbes today. Wolfe goes into detail on ways that these pandemics and viruses can be prevented or resolved, as he has been in the process of research for over fifteen years. Throughout this novel, the information and possible solutions Wolfe presented on microbes were intriguing. This book definitely changed the way I think about the world around me, and it was surprisingly a lot more enjoyable read than I would have thought.
Austin Moyer In The Viral Storm, Nathan Wolfe is able to inform the public on the history and possible future of microbes. Wolfe describes how the evolution of humans along side with the evolution of microbes could lead to a pandemic that could threaten humanity. Wolfe splits the book into three parts: Gathering Clouds, The Tempest, and The Forecast. In Gathering Clouds, Wolfe discusses the discovery of microbes especially viruses and how they are able to adapt to the environment. Wolfe also keys in on how hunting was a major part of viruses spreading due to physical contact between the hunter and the meat of the animal. Another major contribution to the rise of viruses was the domestication of animals and crops which gave way for animal to human transportation for viruses. In The Tempest, Wolfe discusses pandemics and how in today's society pandemics could easily occur. Due to easy transportation, it creates a prime way for a virus to spread quickly and efficiently. Also with today's new medical technology, organ transplants and blood transfusions allow paths for viruses to spread from one person to another. The final part, The Forecast, gives caution and hope for the future. Wolfe says humans have the possibility to potentially predict when pandemics occur. Through monitoring small villages where potential outbreaks can begin, doctors could prevent the virus from spreading. Wolfe also states the possibility of Google and text messages being able to inform people of pandemics. Nathan Wolfe's experience in the field and own views gives humans the blueprint to eradicate viruses for good in the future
Rylee Mercer My summer reading experience was far from ordinary. Every paragraph had me looking around trying to see the billions of micro-organisms coating the world. No success, sadly. However, I succeeded in acquiring a better understanding of the viral world from Nathan Wolfe’s book "The Viral Storm". He didn’t drone on with scientific terms allowing the writing to seem more like a story than some non-fiction essay while still teaching us about his main idea: viruses may be small but they are attacking us with every deadly tactic they have. Viruses are constantly mutating with every duplication, hoping that one of their mutations is strong enough to survive and reproduce (with a hosts help of course). Not only do these viruses mutate within a single host they can hop between species if the right mutation occurs. We originally acquired HIV from chimps and new flu strains are introduced to the human population all the time through other animals such as pigs and bats. By hopping from species to species virus have the opportunity to exchange genetic information with new viruses. The results can be deadly. Say the deadly Ebola virus meets the Common Cold. As of right now Ebola doesn’t have the necessary elements to create an epidemic. However, if you combine the effective spreading technique of the common cold with the high mortality rate of Ebola, the human population would be in serious trouble. This is why scientists such as Wolfe are on the lookout for new viruses and their origins: hot spots. They hope to one day be able to predict an epidemic and stop it in its tracks.
Hyang Eun Bick Virus meaning “poison” in Latin, lives a non-cellular life. We cannot see a virus with our eyes because they live in an unseen world. Every human body contains a virus that are already possessed-also known as microbial repertoire. Through evolution, virologist concludes that viruses existed a long time ago. Starting from our ancestors such as chimpanzees or bonobos, viruses were genetically passed down. Going through evolution, virus’s DNA changed- mutation and the genetic information passed from mother to daughter cells. From this point on, (the interaction between humans and apes) viruses began to evolve and grow. Viruses use the “lock and key” system to infect other organisms. Viruses can be spread by hunting and butchering, needle, water, air/spores, body fluids, blood, mosquitoes, rodents, and so on. The spreading of viruses can be deathly; viruses such as HIV, AIDS, HPV, HCV, Ebola, malaria, rabies, smallpox, mad cow disease, SARS, and dengue. (Etc.) Virologist are studying evolution in depth to understand how, when, and why viruses evolve and grow to stop the pandemic. They’re using many methods such as technology to prevent or even stop the pandemics. Virologist say that rural poverty is the real enemy. I totally agree with this because the wild life make humans vulnerable to a virus. Reducing unsanitary conditions of hunting and butchering will help people in Africa to have less contact with wild-life. It is truly amazing how virologists are using technology and social network such as PCR, GIS, text message (cellular device), google, and twitter to prevent the further spreading of viruses. This helps virologist to predict and maybe even stop a certain virus to go viral. Virologists are trying their best to stop the viruses that exist right and even the future viruses. We, ourselves, should do our job as well. (Preventing to spread) Just by covering our mouths, sneezing into the sleeves, or wearing masks would impede the spreading of viruses.
To be honest, i zoned out half the time I was reading this book because I thought it was really boring. However, it's a very useful and informative book regarding my short attention span. When I found myself actually paying attention to the book, it was when he was talking about monkeys. It's incredible to think how closely related we are to such wild animals. It's incredible to think how many diseases we contract from them. Nathan goes on to tell how the SIV strain went from monkeys to chimpanzees to humans all because of hunting. The strain even outlasted some of the species that it infected. My favorite part of the book was when he went in to the jungle and witnessed the teamwork of the chimpanzees to hunt and eat the red colobus monkeys. The blood and the flesh spread all over the floor made for a perfect viral transmission. People don't realize with just an open wound, or any opening for that matter, could lead to the transmission of disease. Another thing I found interesting, was how many people live with a virus and don't even know it. And not only do they not know it's there, they don't know that it's actually helping them. Unfortunately, most of the viruses that we know of are not like that. Many of them spread with intentions to harm and ultimately kill us. Nathan Wolfe, although a boring writer, does an excellent job of stressing the importance of how we should be aware of an upcoming pandemic. He stresses how we should use social media to help detect areas that are being infected with deadly viruses. Many people don't realize the severity of a pandemic. They watch it and see it on the news but never really think twice about it after that. Nathan Wolfe not only warns us about the potential dangers of a pandemic he lists three objectives to follow in order to prevent one. No matter how dull I thought the book was, it's very important for human survival.
Nathan Wolfe's The Viral Storm really opened my eyes to the world of microbes and viruses that I always knew existed, but never knew how truly expansive and powerful it was. Wolfe is able to fully explain the complex and diverse world of microbes and viruses and put into perspective just how much power they have. Wolfe explains that microbes existed long before humans and as the human race evolved and progressed creating more interactions with apes and other animals, humans began to contract viruses that they had never been exposed to before. The viruses were able to make the jump from apes and other organisms to humans doe to thebface that they are able to mutate into fotms that are compatible with humans. As the human race progressed in terms of travel and communication, whether it be hunting or traveling, the viruses were able to be transferred in more ways than ever. Through the air, water, animals, and open wounds, viruses were able to mutate and merge with other viruses through reassortment creating even more variations than ever. While we have discovered and developed ways to prevent and vaccinate against most of the threats we face, the ever increasing number of combinations and mutations viruses can form causes a higher chance of us encountering something that we cannot cure.
Atin Mollakarimi The Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe is a very intriguing, mind boggling, and eye opening novel that explains and approaches microbes in a very peculiar perspective. Many humans if approached with the question of which species is truly superior many would normal say humans though surprisingly viruses are technically superior to humans. They have crippled several of the greatest civilizations in history and have killed more people than several of the horrific wars waged in Earth’s history. The microbes are from bacteria to prions and viruses along with several other categories and sub categories of their classification system although in this novel Nathan Wolfe classifies them as microbes. The highly discussed microbes in this fascinating, scientific novel are viruses. They are smallest microbe that has a very significant mortality rate compared to other microbes and the most complex systems for only few strands of DNA, RNA, or proteins. Viruses have the capability to alter the genetic information to replicate into many more new lines of genetic information coding which is very excruciating for research scientists looking at possible cures and vaccination. In addition, certain viruses have the capability to cross-genetic information to code for a new daughter mosaic virus. For instance HIV is very slow at replicating itself but is excellent in changing its form. HIV was able to transfer to humans through the contact of infected chimpanzees who had a new daughter mosaic virus. As deadly as viruses are there are many steps that scientist and entrepreneur to insure safety for future protection of such deadly viruses. For example, Google and Twitter are working with several of top medical laboratories around the world to provide vital statistics on what people are looking for in relativity to symptoms, time search occurred, how many people searched, and numerous other necessary information for an appropriate conclusion of rising viruses on a global scale. Though the connectivity of social media to scientists is not were it needs to be. Overall, these are only a few points elaborated in the intriguing and informative novel.
The Viral Storm Felix Joseph Nathan Wolfe in his book posits several good points about the importance of virology in the modern world. The idea that microbes have such a strong control over human functions is very well emphasized in the book. He stresses the importance that in the modern world, it is easier than ever for viruses to spread in an efficient manner. Advances in transportation as well as the development of large cities continue to expedite the spread of viruses in our world. The book as a whole is very foreboding, and it sends out a very clear message to all that read it. With great examples about how viruses were handled in previous decades and centuries, Wolfe describes several ways in which to approach the probability of modern pandemics. Wolfe’s research and field experience provides a very educated and confident point of view when dealing with pandemic prevention as well as predictability. After reading this book, I have a newfound respect for the microbes that inhabit our changing world. There is a lot that we still do not know about the unseen portions of our world.
Despite being very informative, Nathan Wolfe's Viral Storm is truly terrifying. So many billions upon billions of viruses are constantly in and around us, and this is no peaceful coexistence. They are constantly evolving and changing in order to complete a single task: use humans and other organisms to reproduce, creating a better version of themselves. Wolfe raises a great point, that human evolution has greatly benefited the virulence of many pandemics. This is because humans have bridged physical gaps across the globe that viruses could never bridge alone. As the human population becomes increasingly interconnected, it provides more opportunities for dangerous viruses to be spread. Wolfe calls scientists to invest more in prevention of these viral outbreaks rather than attempting to stop the spread once an infection has gained momentum. Wolfe does so fairly eloquently, using anecdote to give readers a feeling of connection while also effectively informing.
Kevin Choi The Viral Storm is an eye-opening book, giving the reader a greater appreciation for the significance of viruses around them. Its author Nathan Wolfe explores several important transmissible diseases, such as HIV, HPV, rabies, and ebola, using their characteristics to warn the reader of the potential threat that viruses pose on human civilization. Focused on the origin and spread of novel viruses, Wolfe emphasizes the importance of cross-species interaction in the introduction of new diseases, such as influenza and HIV. Some of these viruses, such as influenza, are both nearly impossible to eradicate because of its ability to reside in multiple species and because of its ability to mutate very quickly. Other viruses, such as the HIV, developed into a pandemic for several decades without becoming noticed. Nathan Wolfe's experience with chimpanzees and hunter-gatherer societies has given the book valuable insight on how viruses jump from animals to humans. Using this insight, Wolfe introduces a startling concept- that one could stop pandemics by preventing them from ever starting- and offers practical solutions to support his argument. By tracking the beginnings of pandemics through “viral chatter” by monitoring key populations, such as hunters, Wolfe thoroughly convinces the reader the feasibility of such a radical idea.
The Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe was a very intriguing book to read because it presents an interesting view of the large and diverse microbe world Humans often think that they are the predominant species in the world, but until they can control and unearth all existing microbes, prokaryotes and viruses are the most important forms of life on Earth. Dr. Wolfe makes an important point about the impact of history on the spread of diseases around the world. When ancient humans separated from their common ancestor, they experienced a population bottleneck, which reduced their microbial diversity and allowed them to begin hunting and cooking. The effects of branching off from chimpanzees and bonobos surely enabled humans to create sophisticated societies and new innovations, but they also caused more vulnerability to viruses. For instance, technological advancements, such as transportation, led to more interactions among people all over the world, which resulted in the exchange of cultural ideas and more importantly, microbes. Although these advancements have negative aspects, technology has provided the DNA microarray chip and digital epidemiology, tools used to further understandings of genetic makeup and behaviors of viruses. All in all, I was fascinated by the dedication of Dr. Wolfe and other biologists to research and track down viruses in order to understand the origins of a certain virus and to possibly predict and prevent future pandemics. –Grace Kim
ReplyDeleteIn A Viral Storm, Nathan Wolfe manages to vivididly explain the actions and effects of microbes in a comprehensible way. In this novel it is obvious that Wolfe is genuinely passionate about virology, and he has a wealth of knowledge on this topic. He had stories to tell about many major viruses that have affected humans for years, and he talks about the role of evolution in the spread of microbes. He's even had first-hand experiences with many of the viruses he's talked about. His personal stories and history lessons make a great impact on the issues he is explaining by allowing readers to envision the effects of various viruses, even if they have never dealt with them before. He expains how technology has impacted the prevention of deadly microbes. The threat of bioerror and bioterror is also mentioned, which are adverse effects of the improvement of our knowledge of microbes. Although some parts of the novel seemed slightly repetitive, I learned a lot from it. It exemplifies the importance of the microbes that are always around us and inside of us which we might not always think about. Aaliyah Pauyo
ReplyDeleteEthan Koop-
ReplyDeleteWhat made this book stand out to me was how well it put into perspective the magnitude of the microbial presence among us as well as the danger that it presents in so many forms and fashions to everyone around the globe. He thoroughly explained all the factors that made viruses such an impending problem, such as our growing proximity to wild animals, and our lack of viral history that makes us vulnerable to them, as well as our near complete interconnection around the world. The whole book was setting the stage for this pandemic that we are careening into as a global community, with these dangers being statistically bound to happen, as its only a matter of time before all the possibilities aline to create the worst virus imaginable. But then, unlike most academic expositions of this kind, he went on to explain what he personally was doing to prevent it, and what the scientific community needed in his opinion. All of this made the whole read far more real than it just being some faceless scientist's claims of apocalypse.
Rachel Silver
ReplyDeleteThe Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe is a complex non-fiction book which explores the world of viruses and other microbes. Although people can not see them, microbes are thriving everywhere. They are on the surfaces of objects, in the air, in the water, and inside organisms including humans. All species of organisms have a microbial repertoire, which includes all the microbes that can infect a particular species. The microbial repertoire of humans had significant changes during the time when our ancestors began to hunt. The exposure to other species’s microbes from hunting allowed new microbes, such as the HIV virus, to infect our ancestors and alter the microbial repertoire of humans. Another factor that exposed humans to more viruses is the domestication of other animals. The domestication of animals put humans in contact with the viruses of wild animals. In modern times, people rarely have to worry about the people hunting their meat or domesticating animals and plants because of the protective bubble of new technology innovations. All of our new technology, transportation, and medical advances can be both good or bad in terms of spreading viruses. On one hand, all this connection to each other can make it simpler for viruses to spread faster. Easier transportation causes people to be able to travel farther and more often. As a result, more people come in contact with more viruses from more places. Medically speaking, viruses are quickly shared and swapped due to procedures like blood transfusions and organ transplants. On the other hand, these new advances can also help people track down and prevent viruses from spreading. For instance, recent studies prove that social media can show signs of people who may be infected with a virus. However, the one of the most significant factors in preventing pandemics or future outbreaks of a deadly virus is public awareness. People need to be conscious of the unseen life around them, and take simple precautions to prevent the spread of microbes.
Renee Silver
ReplyDeleteThe Viral Storm
Nathan Wolfe
Review:
In The Viral Storm, Nathan Wolfe describes the impact the modern hunting, transportation, and overall interconnected world has on the ability for viruses to spread and infect people in new ways. The evolution of humans and our early ancestor’s behaviors has created interesting relationships with various microbes. The beginning of hunting has played a large role in transferring viruses from animals to people. Also, the book explains how the domestication of animals is another way that viruses in wild animals have been introduced to humans. Among human populations, viruses are able to easily spread due to the multiple transportation systems that allow people to frequently move into and out of different locations. Additionally, current medical procedures, like blood transfusions and organ implants, have lead to serious cases in which a virus can be moved between individuals. Along with discussing the remarkable ability for viruses to effectively spread within our globally connected societies, the book also touches on the potential ways to predict pandemics before they happen. In order to predict future pandemics, scientists are discovering new methods that involve the use of modern technology like cell phones, google, and social media. The book ultimately shows that though the modern world has created multiple new ways for harmful viruses to spread, there are also promising methods being developed for people to fight back.
The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age, explains the origins of some of the world's most deadly viruses while explaining the link between modern life and global pandemic threats. Wolfe also brings up the development or remedies/medicines with technology that could prevent possible threats. He tells the story of how viruses and human beings have evolved side-by-side through history, how deadly viruses like HIV, swine flu, and bird flu almost wiped out life as we know it in the past, and why modern life has made us vulnerable to the threat of a global pandemic. Wolfe explains the science clearly and the evidence of our increasing vulnerability to pandemics speaks for itself. He intriguingly explained the role of hunting and eating wild game that introduced new diseases into the human body, and stated that the more closely related a hunter and his prey are, the more likely a microbe will be able to adapt to its new host. The final chapters in the book Wolfe explains the details of preventing pandemics before they arise and attack the population, which leads us to thinking one question. How can we prevent and possibly remove a virus that risks upon the the survival of humanity? Wolfe excels and intrigues his readers into reading more about the world of pandemics and it's possible vaccinations.
ReplyDeleteCat Rose
ReplyDeleteThe Viral Storm is divided into three separate parts: Gathering Clouds, The Tempest, and The Forecast. Each part helps support a specific idea. Gathering Clouds focuses on the discovery and diversity of microbial organisms, especially viruses and how they manipulate their environment (any life) in order to spread and reproduce. It explains that hunting was an adaptation of the common ancestor of humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos, and that while hunting provides added calories to the species’ diets, it also puts the hunting species in contact with all of the microbes contained within their prey. The very act of hunting animals increases our risk for cross-special disease. Additionally, the book explains that due to experiencing near extinction early in our history, many of the diseases that had evolved with humans were wiped away, weakening our immune systems and making us more vulnerable to these same diseases in the modern age. The domestication of animals provides a means for diseases to enter into humans. These factors make for an ideal environment for a virus to inter and devastate humans. The Tempest defines a pandemic as a disease with victims in all inhabited continents and investigates the origins of many diseases. Many deadly diseases, for example, come directly from animals to a single human and does not have the capacity to spread, and is therefore not a pandemic. Some, however, are able to adapt from spreading mainly from animals to humans, to purely human infection. When a disease is able to rapidly spread from human to human, it can be considered a pandemic. It also explores the effects of human interconnectivity on viral spread; with rapid travel and communication viruses are able to spread more quickly before being detected. Roads and other methods of travel connect remote regions with the rest of the world, increasing the potential for a new virus to spread from once-isolated populations. Medical breakthroughs provide a new rout for microbes to enter the human body: organ transplants and blood transfusions, and vaccinations with unsterilized needles provide highways into the human body. The immediate access to viruses and other forms of microbes to many increases the risk of bioterror events. In these ways are viruses able to wreak havoc on humans. The Forecast, offers a much more hopeful view of viruses. It devotes time to mentioning the beneficial microbial life upon which we depend: bacteria in our intestines and weakened viruses in vaccines(such as smallpox), to name a few. It also paints a picture of a future in which human villages which are likely to contract new viruses are monitored for threats with the intent of stopping them before they spread. It hints that in the future, data such as Google searches and text messages may help to predict the sorts of viruses infecting humans, and states that eventually modern medicine and virologists may be able to eradicate infectious disease entirely, making the word “pandemic” obsolete.
In The Viral Storm, biologist Nathan Wolfe explains the history of deadly viruses around the world while also showing how they are spread. He provides us with knowledge about a part of life that we barely know about and provides his own life experiences as a way for us to connect. We as humans think we're the greatest species on Earth however viruses have the potential to cause our downfall. In this day and age of travel and communication, viruses could spread worldwide and we could all be in danger. This is where scientists like Wolfe come in. He has dedicates his time to learning as much as he can about viruses so he can help give us the information that we need. The book openly states that there will be another global pandemic but he provides hope that we will be able to respond proactively and cause minimal damage. The book is written in three main sections: Gathering Clouds, The Tempest, and The Forecast. In Gathering Clouds, Wolfe talked about the mass discovery of micro organisms and how hunting has made us more vulnerable to contact with them. The Tempest talks about what exactly a pandemic is. Pandemics are when diseases have the compatability to spread through contact which is very dangerous now considering how we travel now. Lastly, The Forecast provides an optimistic view on viruses and gives hope that in the future we will be able to stop viruses before they spread and hint that data such as Google Searches and texting will allow people to predict if a virus is infecting humans. Nathan Wolfe's first person encounters and liberal views allow us to submerge into the world of viruses and come out with a more open mind about where we sit in the world. If we are not careful, our population will all become infected.
ReplyDeleteThe Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe elaborates on how pandemics form, how they spread, and what we can do to prevent them. In the first section of the book described how viruses spread from animal to human and from human to human via hunting and domestication of animals. In the next section of the book, Nathan Wolfe states that, because our world is so interconnected, viruses can easily become pandemics because they can be transported to other countries by means of humans. In the final chapters of the book, the author gives many ways of how people are fighting against viruses with technology and the sheer interconnectedness that is the 21st century. He explains that we are now using SMS messaging to send messages from local clinics to the main hospitals in countries where pandemics could most likely happen. He also mentions the use of small groups known as sentinels which are groups of people who are most likely going to be the beginnings of a pandemic. Basically this book is an "All you need to know" about the beginning, middle, and end of pandemics.
ReplyDeleteJudy Dinh!!
ReplyDeleteThe Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe is a mixture between an autobiography and a textbook.Wolf combines his personal recollections with facts, and that juxtaposition is a bit odd to me. Even so, these experiences make the statements about viruses that more realistic to the reader.He successfully gives enough background on microbes to allow the reader to understand the complex ideas that are presented later in the book.He mentions many examples of diseases and situations in which viruses have impact other organisms.To me,Wolfe’s own interests are very apparent. Anyone can see that Wolfe has dealt with his fair share of viruses. He has researched in many labs all over the world. He makes this very evident and reiterates the same ideas in every chapter.He constantly reminds the reader that microbes spread and that microbes are powerful through stories such as the development of hunting animals. Even though these stories were interesting, I already knew what his main point was before he stated it. Nonetheless, Wolfe still provides insight on microbes. He successfully described the role viruses played throughout history. For example,Wolfe mentions that viruses have a reservoir which is where the virus originates. I found it interesting how these microbes were spread from animal to eventually human throughout many years. Furthermore, it is common knowledge that viruses can kill humans;numerous amounts of people die from viral diseases. On the other hand, they also help to keep equilibrium in the world by killing bacteria. The idea of a viral pandemic in today’s world seems improbable to the average person,yet Wolfe is able to show the importance of viruses and how heavily they can affect humans in modern times too. Wolfe describes the battle of research against these microbes. While there is still much unknown about viruses, we attempt to combat them hence making some progress.
The viral storm by Nathan Wolfe is a quite daunting book for the first hundred and so pages. As Wolfe is able paint the picture of a world dominated by not humans, but instead viruses: an infectious agent that in some cases isn’t even considered to be a live organism. As he takes us through the major episodes of human interactions with viruses that are ever evolving, most of the stories have been about us as a species dancing within the grasp of these micro-agents. It is only recently in our history that we were able to start recognizing and develop techniques to avoid becoming a manufacturing factory of these potentially deadly viruses. Nathan Wolfe discusses that the viral threat is all around us, as they transform themselves from residents of another species until they jump to humans, such as the influenza virus that transfers from a variety of bird and mammalian species of animals, HIV that was gained through human interaction with monkeys, and SARS that came from pigs to cause a global panic in 2003 when it started killing people in the Guangdong province in China. As with explaining the viral dominance he also shared his first hand experience with them, he writes about his experiences when he became infected with diseases as he traveled the world researching and diagnosing newly found infecting agents that could potentially become a human threat. This book makes the reader very appreciative of the CDC and WHO, explaining that the fate of the world maybe dependent on these researchers and virologists on finding and controlling these agents. Though very systematic, there are always too many varieties of virus, bacteria, protozoa, and prions that may as well mean the end of our species. His ending of an optimistic future may not be the case, and anyone who reads book definitely will become more conscious of their environment and the choices they make, as the threat of a still unknown agent(s) looms over us. -Koei Howell
ReplyDeleteChelsea Dinh
ReplyDeleteAfter reading The Viral Storm, I realize how insignificant and powerless I am compared to microbes. According to one of Beyonce’s songs, Girls run the world, but Nathan Wolfe has made me believe otherwise. I never realized how powerful microbes were, and after reading this book, I am actually really terrified of them. It is also interesting to learn how viruses have different features that allow them to dominate this planet. One part that really sticks out to me is when Mr. Wolfe talks about how sometimes viruses can stay in the body. He then goes on to say that we won’t even know it’s in our body because the virus doesn’t create any visible symptoms, so we will not test to see what the virus is because we don’t even know it is there. That is kind of creepy to read because a virus just nesting inside my person without doing much seems weird. What even scares me more is when he talks about how viruses are smart enough to have the ability to stay in animal reservoirs and in humans, so if we happen to vaccinate all the humans, that would not necessarily eradicate the virus because the virus would reside in the animals. Then one day the virus could maybe do what the two viruses in the red-capped mangabey and spot-nosed guenon did to create something new, jump from the animals to the humans, and infect us all again. Overall, the book was really informative, and it really opened my eyes to the big world of microbes.
This book, The Viral Storm, is a truly eye-opening work by Dr. Nathan Wolfe. It describes in detail the various ways we, as the human race, affect and are affected by microbes. Microbes are omnipresent, and oftentimes, we spend little time in our daily lives simply pondering how widespread they are. It is shocking to think that although humans seem to be the dominant species on this planet, there is a completely different world that is dominated by multitudes of these microscopic creatures. One of the most heavily discussed microbes in this book are viruses, and it’s hard to believe that they are responsible for some illnesses, diseases, and bodily processes that we are affected by each day. Although nonliving, they work efficiently and systematically by using various features in order to infiltrate host bodies and become widespread. This novel sheds light on the various ways microbes spread and the amazing characteristics that allow them to do so in such a proficient manner. Microbes come into contact with us throughout our day, and I found myself thinking about everything I was doing on a microscopic scale. I found it refreshing that Wolfe reinforced during the course of the book that humans are just other animals. Our close relatives and animals that we come into contact with daily are also responsible for many of the microbes we encounter, and occasionally, viruses will transfer from these animals to us. If the animal is similar to us, such as a chimpanzee, it will be easier for the virus to modify itself to fit us. Wolfe also discusses how the developments and discoveries of early humans led to changes in the ways we interact with microbes. On the other hand, he touches on the ways that the current technology and medical procedures in developing and developed areas affect our relationships with microbes today. Wolfe goes into detail on ways that these pandemics and viruses can be prevented or resolved, as he has been in the process of research for over fifteen years. Throughout this novel, the information and possible solutions Wolfe presented on microbes were intriguing. This book definitely changed the way I think about the world around me, and it was surprisingly a lot more enjoyable read than I would have thought.
ReplyDeleteAustin Moyer
ReplyDeleteIn The Viral Storm, Nathan Wolfe is able to inform the public on the history and possible future of microbes. Wolfe describes how the evolution of humans along side with the evolution of microbes could lead to a pandemic that could threaten humanity. Wolfe splits the book into three parts: Gathering Clouds, The Tempest, and The Forecast. In Gathering Clouds, Wolfe discusses the discovery of microbes especially viruses and how they are able to adapt to the environment. Wolfe also keys in on how hunting was a major part of viruses spreading due to physical contact between the hunter and the meat of the animal. Another major contribution to the rise of viruses was the domestication of animals and crops which gave way for animal to human transportation for viruses. In The Tempest, Wolfe discusses pandemics and how in today's society pandemics could easily occur. Due to easy transportation, it creates a prime way for a virus to spread quickly and efficiently. Also with today's new medical technology, organ transplants and blood transfusions allow paths for viruses to spread from one person to another. The final part, The Forecast, gives caution and hope for the future. Wolfe says humans have the possibility to potentially predict when pandemics occur. Through monitoring small villages where potential outbreaks can begin, doctors could prevent the virus from spreading. Wolfe also states the possibility of Google and text messages being able to inform people of pandemics. Nathan Wolfe's experience in the field and own views gives humans the blueprint to eradicate viruses for good in the future
Rylee Mercer
ReplyDeleteMy summer reading experience was far from ordinary. Every paragraph had me looking around trying to see the billions of micro-organisms coating the world. No success, sadly. However, I succeeded in acquiring a better understanding of the viral world from Nathan Wolfe’s book "The Viral Storm". He didn’t drone on with scientific terms allowing the writing to seem more like a story than some non-fiction essay while still teaching us about his main idea: viruses may be small but they are attacking us with every deadly tactic they have. Viruses are constantly mutating with every duplication, hoping that one of their mutations is strong enough to survive and reproduce (with a hosts help of course). Not only do these viruses mutate within a single host they can hop between species if the right mutation occurs. We originally acquired HIV from chimps and new flu strains are introduced to the human population all the time through other animals such as pigs and bats. By hopping from species to species virus have the opportunity to exchange genetic information with new viruses. The results can be deadly. Say the deadly Ebola virus meets the Common Cold. As of right now Ebola doesn’t have the necessary elements to create an epidemic. However, if you combine the effective spreading technique of the common cold with the high mortality rate of Ebola, the human population would be in serious trouble. This is why scientists such as Wolfe are on the lookout for new viruses and their origins: hot spots. They hope to one day be able to predict an epidemic and stop it in its tracks.
Hyang Eun Bick
ReplyDeleteVirus meaning “poison” in Latin, lives a non-cellular life. We cannot see a virus with our eyes because they live in an unseen world. Every human body contains a virus that are already possessed-also known as microbial repertoire. Through evolution, virologist concludes that viruses existed a long time ago. Starting from our ancestors such as chimpanzees or bonobos, viruses were genetically passed down. Going through evolution, virus’s DNA changed- mutation and the genetic information passed from mother to daughter cells. From this point on, (the interaction between humans and apes) viruses began to evolve and grow. Viruses use the “lock and key” system to infect other organisms. Viruses can be spread by hunting and butchering, needle, water, air/spores, body fluids, blood, mosquitoes, rodents, and so on. The spreading of viruses can be deathly; viruses such as HIV, AIDS, HPV, HCV, Ebola, malaria, rabies, smallpox, mad cow disease, SARS, and dengue. (Etc.) Virologist are studying evolution in depth to understand how, when, and why viruses evolve and grow to stop the pandemic. They’re using many methods such as technology to prevent or even stop the pandemics. Virologist say that rural poverty is the real enemy. I totally agree with this because the wild life make humans vulnerable to a virus. Reducing unsanitary conditions of hunting and butchering will help people in Africa to have less contact with wild-life. It is truly amazing how virologists are using technology and social network such as PCR, GIS, text message (cellular device), google, and twitter to prevent the further spreading of viruses. This helps virologist to predict and maybe even stop a certain virus to go viral. Virologists are trying their best to stop the viruses that exist right and even the future viruses. We, ourselves, should do our job as well. (Preventing to spread) Just by covering our mouths, sneezing into the sleeves, or wearing masks would impede the spreading of viruses.
Sharia Rahman
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, i zoned out half the time I was reading this book because I thought it was really boring. However, it's a very useful and informative book regarding my short attention span. When I found myself actually paying attention to the book, it was when he was talking about monkeys. It's incredible to think how closely related we are to such wild animals. It's incredible to think how many diseases we contract from them. Nathan goes on to tell how the SIV strain went from monkeys to chimpanzees to humans all because of hunting. The strain even outlasted some of the species that it infected. My favorite part of the book was when he went in to the jungle and witnessed the teamwork of the chimpanzees to hunt and eat the red colobus monkeys. The blood and the flesh spread all over the floor made for a perfect viral transmission. People don't realize with just an open wound, or any opening for that matter, could lead to the transmission of disease. Another thing I found interesting, was how many people live with a virus and don't even know it. And not only do they not know it's there, they don't know that it's actually helping them. Unfortunately, most of the viruses that we know of are not like that. Many of them spread with intentions to harm and ultimately kill us. Nathan Wolfe, although a boring writer, does an excellent job of stressing the importance of how we should be aware of an upcoming pandemic. He stresses how we should use social media to help detect areas that are being infected with deadly viruses. Many people don't realize the severity of a pandemic. They watch it and see it on the news but never really think twice about it after that. Nathan Wolfe not only warns us about the potential dangers of a pandemic he lists three objectives to follow in order to prevent one. No matter how dull I thought the book was, it's very important for human survival.
Zoe Slagle,
ReplyDeleteNathan Wolfe's The Viral Storm really opened my eyes to the world of microbes and viruses that I always knew existed, but never knew how truly expansive and powerful it was. Wolfe is able to fully explain the complex and diverse world of microbes and viruses and put into perspective just how much power they have. Wolfe explains that microbes existed long before humans and as the human race evolved and progressed creating more interactions with apes and other animals, humans began to contract viruses that they had never been exposed to before. The viruses were able to make the jump from apes and other organisms to humans doe to thebface that they are able to mutate into fotms that are compatible with humans. As the human race progressed in terms of travel and communication, whether it be hunting or traveling, the viruses were able to be transferred in more ways than ever. Through the air, water, animals, and open wounds, viruses were able to mutate and merge with other viruses through reassortment creating even more variations than ever. While we have discovered and developed ways to prevent and vaccinate against most of the threats we face, the ever increasing number of combinations and mutations viruses can form causes a higher chance of us encountering something that we cannot cure.
Atin Mollakarimi
ReplyDeleteThe Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe is a very intriguing, mind boggling, and eye opening novel that explains and approaches microbes in a very peculiar perspective. Many humans if approached with the question of which species is truly superior many would normal say humans though surprisingly viruses are technically superior to humans. They have crippled several of the greatest civilizations in history and have killed more people than several of the horrific wars waged in Earth’s history. The microbes are from bacteria to prions and viruses along with several other categories and sub categories of their classification system although in this novel Nathan Wolfe classifies them as microbes. The highly discussed microbes in this fascinating, scientific novel are viruses. They are smallest microbe that has a very significant mortality rate compared to other microbes and the most complex systems for only few strands of DNA, RNA, or proteins. Viruses have the capability to alter the genetic information to replicate into many more new lines of genetic information coding which is very excruciating for research scientists looking at possible cures and vaccination. In addition, certain viruses have the capability to cross-genetic information to code for a new daughter mosaic virus. For instance HIV is very slow at replicating itself but is excellent in changing its form. HIV was able to transfer to humans through the contact of infected chimpanzees who had a new daughter mosaic virus. As deadly as viruses are there are many steps that scientist and entrepreneur to insure safety for future protection of such deadly viruses. For example, Google and Twitter are working with several of top medical laboratories around the world to provide vital statistics on what people are looking for in relativity to symptoms, time search occurred, how many people searched, and numerous other necessary information for an appropriate conclusion of rising viruses on a global scale. Though the connectivity of social media to scientists is not were it needs to be. Overall, these are only a few points elaborated in the intriguing and informative novel.
The Viral Storm
ReplyDeleteFelix Joseph
Nathan Wolfe in his book posits several good points about the importance of virology in the modern world. The idea that microbes have such a strong control over human functions is very well emphasized in the book. He stresses the importance that in the modern world, it is easier than ever for viruses to spread in an efficient manner. Advances in transportation as well as the development of large cities continue to expedite the spread of viruses in our world. The book as a whole is very foreboding, and it sends out a very clear message to all that read it. With great examples about how viruses were handled in previous decades and centuries, Wolfe describes several ways in which to approach the probability of modern pandemics. Wolfe’s research and field experience provides a very educated and confident point of view when dealing with pandemic prevention as well as predictability. After reading this book, I have a newfound respect for the microbes that inhabit our changing world. There is a lot that we still do not know about the unseen portions of our world.
Robert Chandler
ReplyDeleteDespite being very informative, Nathan Wolfe's Viral Storm is truly terrifying. So many billions upon billions of viruses are constantly in and around us, and this is no peaceful coexistence. They are constantly evolving and changing in order to complete a single task: use humans and other organisms to reproduce, creating a better version of themselves. Wolfe raises a great point, that human evolution has greatly benefited the virulence of many pandemics. This is because humans have bridged physical gaps across the globe that viruses could never bridge alone. As the human population becomes increasingly interconnected, it provides more opportunities for dangerous viruses to be spread. Wolfe calls scientists to invest more in prevention of these viral outbreaks rather than attempting to stop the spread once an infection has gained momentum. Wolfe does so fairly eloquently, using anecdote to give readers a feeling of connection while also effectively informing.
Kevin Choi
ReplyDeleteThe Viral Storm is an eye-opening book, giving the reader a greater appreciation for the significance of viruses around them. Its author Nathan Wolfe explores several important transmissible diseases, such as HIV, HPV, rabies, and ebola, using their characteristics to warn the reader of the potential threat that viruses pose on human civilization. Focused on the origin and spread of novel viruses, Wolfe emphasizes the importance of cross-species interaction in the introduction of new diseases, such as influenza and HIV. Some of these viruses, such as influenza, are both nearly impossible to eradicate because of its ability to reside in multiple species and because of its ability to mutate very quickly. Other viruses, such as the HIV, developed into a pandemic for several decades without becoming noticed. Nathan Wolfe's experience with chimpanzees and hunter-gatherer societies has given the book valuable insight on how viruses jump from animals to humans. Using this insight, Wolfe introduces a startling concept- that one could stop pandemics by preventing them from ever starting- and offers practical solutions to support his argument. By tracking the beginnings of pandemics through “viral chatter” by monitoring key populations, such as hunters, Wolfe thoroughly convinces the reader the feasibility of such a radical idea.