Kitum cave is important to the story because it is the location of the first known cases of people contracting the Marburg virus. The Marburg virus is closely related and in the same family as Ebola. When the monkeys were inspected, there was an abundance of the Marburg virus in the monkey house. Kitum cave is important because if the virus was present inside, then that means an organism was able to survive alongside with the virus. If this organism was discovered, then a vaccine could be procured from it. Viruses are parasites and they are not able to survive without a host. Kitum cave is "an enclosed airspace" (Preston 163) just like the monkey house and the monkey house also had "dung all over the place" (Preston 163) and "monkey urine in pools" (Preston 163). Like Kitum cave, the monkey house had organisms or that were infected and were incubating the virus. However, instead of humans, the monkey house Marburg virus was incubating inside monkeys. The enclosed airspace help circulate the virus by switching from host to host in the moisture of their breath. The dung and urine made it easier for the virus to travel from one organism into a new organism by physical contact. Kitum cave and the monkey house were both in similar situations and it is not a coincidence that the Marburg virus was found in both.
As Luis explained and described thoroughly is that the Kitum cave was actually really important to the story because it gives an example of where the Marburg virus came from and it introduces the virus by showing in what types of environments it can be identified in. Since it was the location that some of the first known cases took place, shows that there might be other relatively similar viruses that can be identified as having some of the same properties as the Marburg virus. The location is very important because it introduces a basic idea of where the Marburg virus first took place, the monkey house is also similar because it was found their easier as well.
Kitum cave is important to the story because it is the location of the first known cases of people contracting the Marburg virus. The Marburg virus is closely related and in the same family as Ebola. When the monkeys were inspected, there was an abundance of the Marburg virus in the monkey house. Kitum cave is important because if the virus was present inside, then that means an organism was able to survive alongside with the virus. If this organism was discovered, then a vaccine could be procured from it. Viruses are parasites and they are not able to survive without a host. Kitum cave is "an enclosed airspace" (Preston 163) just like the monkey house and the monkey house also had "dung all over the place" (Preston 163) and "monkey urine in pools" (Preston 163). Like Kitum cave, the monkey house had organisms or that were infected and were incubating the virus. However, instead of humans, the monkey house Marburg virus was incubating inside monkeys. The enclosed airspace help circulate the virus by switching from host to host in the moisture of their breath. The dung and urine made it easier for the virus to travel from one organism into a new organism by physical contact. Kitum cave and the monkey house were both in similar situations and it is not a coincidence that the Marburg virus was found in both.
ReplyDeleteWas there ever a vector found that carried the Marburg virus in Kitum Cave?
DeleteAs Luis explained and described thoroughly is that the Kitum cave was actually really important to the story because it gives an example of where the Marburg virus came from and it introduces the virus by showing in what types of environments it can be identified in. Since it was the location that some of the first known cases took place, shows that there might be other relatively similar viruses that can be identified as having some of the same properties as the Marburg virus. The location is very important because it introduces a basic idea of where the Marburg virus first took place, the monkey house is also similar because it was found their easier as well.
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