Ebola isn't a respiratory virus. It doesn't spread through the airborne route. So it's not likely to spread like wildfire around the world and kill tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people. That's what I think of as the next big one. David Quammen airbornebigebola share on social
There's a belief in some cultures that if a person experiences good fortune in financial terms and does not share the good fortune, when that person becomes ill with a mysterious fever and dies, people tend to say: 'Aha! It was because he didn't share. It was the spirits who brought him down.' David Quammen ahabeliefbring share on social
I was a prodigy who learned how difficult writing was only after getting published. I paid my dues later. David Quammen difficultduelearn Change image and share on social
I thought 'The Hot Zone' was fascinating, mesmerizing. It's one of the things that got me interested in Ebola. David Quammen ebolafascinatehot Change image and share on social
We're shaking loose viruses and dislodging them from their natural ecological limitations, places where they aren't very abundant and have competition, even within a single animal. We introduce them into a new, rich habitat called the human population, where they can flourish more abundantly and cause more trouble. David Quammen abundantabundantlyanimal share on social
The more cases of Ebola infection we have, the more chances there are for the virus to mutate in a particular way that adapts it well to living in humans, replicating in humans, and perhaps transmitting from human to human. David Quammen adaptcasechance share on social
You can't take a knife on a plane anymore, but you can get on carrying a virus. David Quammen anymorecarryknife Change image and share on social
On April 3, 2014, Jane Goodall turned 80. The iconic blond ponytail has gone gray, but the sparkle of intelligence, sly humor, and fierce dedication still shines from her hazel eyes. David Quammen aprilblonddedication Change image and share on social
I'm a white, middle-class male who had a happy childhood in Ohio. The world does not need me to be a novelist. David Quammen childhoodclasshappy Change image and share on social
Viruses have to live somewhere. They can only replicate in living creatures. So, when the Ebola virus disappears between outbreaks, it has to be living in some reservoir host, presumably some species of animal. David Quammen animalcreaturedisappear share on social