The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. It is about the Ebola virus, its beginnings, and research that was done with it. It follows a person who researched the disease, and tells the story of the outbreak that was within 15 miles of Washington DC. This is easily my favorite book ever. Fair warning, the beginning is extremely graphic. It dies down quickly though, if I recall correctly. I haven't read the book in a while. Another great book was The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This book is about a black woman in the 1950s who had cancer. Her cancer cells, after being taken out of her body, still replicated an astounding rates, doubling daily. The book tells of Henrietta's story, the financial struggles her family faces today, and the industry that has been made from Henrietta's cells. The cells are still sold today, and the Lacks family has not received any money from sales of the cells.
I read The Hot Zone when it was new. Totally blew my mind. If you haven't seen And the Band Played On you should. they're spiritual brothers. Interestingly enough I just read about Henrietta Lacks this morning, and how her kids are now on the ethics board that determines who gets to use the cell line. Added.
Ebola outbreak in Africa. It has reached the capital of Guinea, and possibly spread to Seirra Leone. news.yahoo.com/ebola-epidemic-spreads-guineas-capital-173304833.html