The Demon in the Freezer

Smallpox Virus

For my literacy glog, I chose The Demon in the Freezer by Richard

Book Cover

Preston. After reading The Hot Zone last year, also by Preston, I heard that he wrote another book about smallpox. I wanted to read it, and it turns out to be on the reading list, a lucky coincidence. The book is about smallpox, its eradication in 1979 and the process that the medical professions went about to exterminate the disease. I can't imagine getting smallpox after reading what some people had to go through, pretty frightening stuff! Living in a time with no vaccines for viruses like smallpox would feel as if there was no hope. Preston discusses a lot of history, which I don't like much, but he makes it really interesting! He tells of only two stores of smallpox that were kept, but other nations have it, and they can easily set it loose as a biological weapon. This is an interesting yet frightening idea. Preston makes the history interesting, involving commentary from the individuals who actually put an end to the spread to the smallpox virus. He includes always intriguing observations, and I'm excited to learn what happens next.

 Smallpox Virus Image From http://catherineryanhoward.com/2010/11/26/what-i-thought-of-the-demon-in-the-freezer-by-richard-preston/
Book Cover Image From http://www.homeshop18.com/demon-freezer/author:richard-preston/isbn:9780345466631/books/science/product:20146140/cid:13683/?it_category=hs18bot&it_action=sameCategoryBooks&it_label=20146140&it_value=2