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Before Ebola: Dispatches from a Deadly Outbreak
The haunting firsthand account of the deadliest Marburg outbreak in history. The year is 2005. A highly infectious, unidentified Ebola-like virus is sweeping through the slums and villages of northern Angola. Within months, more than 200 people have died, medical services have collapsed and aid workers are on the brink of exhaustion. At 23, Peter Apps was just starting out as a foreign correspondent when Reuters sent him into the heart of the outbreak to get the story. In “Before Ebola: Dispatches from a Deadly Outbreak� Apps recalls in vivid, unflinching detail the horrors of life in a hot zone, the compassion of those trying to contain it, and how a terrified young journalist came of age in a time of almost unbearable crisis.
Peter Apps is a global defense correspondent for Reuters news, currently dividing his time between London and Washington, D.C. In September 2006, Apps broke his neck in a minibus crash while covering the Sri Lankan civil war, leaving him largely paralyzed from the shoulders down.
Cover design by Kristen Radtke.
Peter Apps is a global defense correspondent for Reuters news, currently dividing his time between London and Washington, D.C. In September 2006, Apps broke his neck in a minibus crash while covering the Sri Lankan civil war, leaving him largely paralyzed from the shoulders down.
Cover design by Kristen Radtke.
76 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2014
22 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Peter Apps
27Ìýbooks11ÌýfollowersPeter Apps lives in England, and Deja Vu To The Nth is his third novel. He wrote it because he still thinks people are pretty amazing even though Peter hasn’t met anyone who has built a space portal, but then again, he hasn’t looked in everyone’s garden shed either.
He was born on 1st January 1948 has lived in Sheerness, Kent for most of his life. The Isle of Sheppey where Sheerness is situated has a long, rich history which has always fascinated Peter. History might seem a far cry from Science Fiction but imagining life in a Roman settlement is imagining a world just as alien as a distant planet.
Although he worked in a series of routine jobs he likes to do his own thing when he can.
For example, all his computers are Microsoft free zones and prefers to use Linux. He has always had an interest in science, especially Astronomy. Now that planets have been discovered around other suns, he feels that the time is coming when we could discover intelligent life out there.
Other interests include classical music and jazz. He also likes to settle down in the evening to watch a good film while enjoying a nice glass of bitter or else visiting his local for a chat over a friendly drink.
He was born on 1st January 1948 has lived in Sheerness, Kent for most of his life. The Isle of Sheppey where Sheerness is situated has a long, rich history which has always fascinated Peter. History might seem a far cry from Science Fiction but imagining life in a Roman settlement is imagining a world just as alien as a distant planet.
Although he worked in a series of routine jobs he likes to do his own thing when he can.
For example, all his computers are Microsoft free zones and prefers to use Linux. He has always had an interest in science, especially Astronomy. Now that planets have been discovered around other suns, he feels that the time is coming when we could discover intelligent life out there.
Other interests include classical music and jazz. He also likes to settle down in the evening to watch a good film while enjoying a nice glass of bitter or else visiting his local for a chat over a friendly drink.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 13, 2014
A decade ago, a different epidemic erupted in Africa and threatened to rage out of control. The Marburg virus is a filovirus-type hemorrhagic fever, related to Ebola. In 2005, it quickly killed almost 300 people in northern Angola.
Peter Apps was a young Reuters journalist who saw that horror firsthand, and this week he describes his experience in a deeply personal essay titled “Before Ebola."
His story is as much a tale of disease as it is a window on the exciting, sometimes terrifying life of an international reporter. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
Peter Apps was a young Reuters journalist who saw that horror firsthand, and this week he describes his experience in a deeply personal essay titled “Before Ebola."
His story is as much a tale of disease as it is a window on the exciting, sometimes terrifying life of an international reporter. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
November 14, 2014
An interesting read about the Marburg virus, which came about a decade before Ebola. Peter Apps, the author, was a journalist at the time covering the outbreak. He tells an interesting story of what life is like in the middle of an outbreak.
The story about the husband who abruptly locked his pregnant wife in their home when she exhibited signs of the disease and quickly left with their children was heartbreaking. While outside the home, he could hear her crying all alone until she died.
The end of the book shocked me. I wish the best to Peter Apps. He sounds like an amazing man who has built an interesting and meaningful life despite challenges.
The story about the husband who abruptly locked his pregnant wife in their home when she exhibited signs of the disease and quickly left with their children was heartbreaking. While outside the home, he could hear her crying all alone until she died.
The end of the book shocked me. I wish the best to Peter Apps. He sounds like an amazing man who has built an interesting and meaningful life despite challenges.
October 19, 2014
Good read
I picked this up in kindle unlimited and thought I would give it a try, it was good to read and very informative.
I picked this up in kindle unlimited and thought I would give it a try, it was good to read and very informative.
November 10, 2014
Full disclosure- I've met this author a handful of times and think he is pretty damn awesome and brilliant, so my review may be a little biased (though not inflated or dishonest, I don't think).
Before Ebola was extremely interesting and informative, though it was not quite what I expected. I was expecting and hoping for more information about the actual virus, the human impact in Angola, the responses from government officials, victims, family members, community members, etc. Don't get me wrong- all of that was in there. But this is not a full-length book, and so Apps did not have the length to get into the details as much as I would have liked. I haven't gotten this far yet, but I assume that if I were to look up the articles he published from that time period I would find all the virus information there.
Where this essay really shines, though, is in describing life as a foreign correspondent, particularly as a promising rookie correspondent. Apps tells his story with humor and honesty, describing not just what his team did, but how they felt while doing it. I was amazed by how quickly they could churn out large quantities of copy, particularly considering how little time was spent at the actual sites. I also found Apps' later reflections of this several day adventure refreshing, particularly because he eventually said what I was thinking the whole time while reading. I was surprised that so much effort went into getting out into the hot zone, but then they left pretty quickly without getting too immersed or even talking to many people. Apps admits later that he regrets not staying a little longer and getting a bit more involved. I appreciated the honesty, which showed how Apps has grown as a reporter over time.
Quick read, engaging, by a brilliant writer- definitely go check this one out.
Before Ebola was extremely interesting and informative, though it was not quite what I expected. I was expecting and hoping for more information about the actual virus, the human impact in Angola, the responses from government officials, victims, family members, community members, etc. Don't get me wrong- all of that was in there. But this is not a full-length book, and so Apps did not have the length to get into the details as much as I would have liked. I haven't gotten this far yet, but I assume that if I were to look up the articles he published from that time period I would find all the virus information there.
Where this essay really shines, though, is in describing life as a foreign correspondent, particularly as a promising rookie correspondent. Apps tells his story with humor and honesty, describing not just what his team did, but how they felt while doing it. I was amazed by how quickly they could churn out large quantities of copy, particularly considering how little time was spent at the actual sites. I also found Apps' later reflections of this several day adventure refreshing, particularly because he eventually said what I was thinking the whole time while reading. I was surprised that so much effort went into getting out into the hot zone, but then they left pretty quickly without getting too immersed or even talking to many people. Apps admits later that he regrets not staying a little longer and getting a bit more involved. I appreciated the honesty, which showed how Apps has grown as a reporter over time.
Quick read, engaging, by a brilliant writer- definitely go check this one out.
April 23, 2017
This was a very short book about the Marburg outbreak in Northern Angola in 2005. Marburg is a hemorrhagic diseas that is even more deadly than Ebola and the period between onset and death is very short.
It does not go into the medical aspects of the virus or the source of this particular outbreak. It is about the everyday life that surrounds an outbreak of this kind and the lengths a reporter has to go to inform the world. Usually we just see the story and video clips about sick and dying, but this is what goes into that report. Somehow this made a bigger impact on me than the medical aspects. Apps describes the problems of getting into such an area when most means of transportation refuse to have anything to do with the area. It describes the hotels with no more beds, the arduous task of reporting and the stories under these conditions and of some of the aids workers who chose to stay and work with patients.
In passing, he tells of a woman who was sick with Marburg. As soon as her husband saw that she had the virus, he got himself and all the children out and locked the door from the outside. He was doing exactly what doctors recommend, but he will never recover from the sounds of his wife all alone and crying for help. I found that one story, probably enacted all over Africa, almost more terrifying than the disease itself.
It does not go into the medical aspects of the virus or the source of this particular outbreak. It is about the everyday life that surrounds an outbreak of this kind and the lengths a reporter has to go to inform the world. Usually we just see the story and video clips about sick and dying, but this is what goes into that report. Somehow this made a bigger impact on me than the medical aspects. Apps describes the problems of getting into such an area when most means of transportation refuse to have anything to do with the area. It describes the hotels with no more beds, the arduous task of reporting and the stories under these conditions and of some of the aids workers who chose to stay and work with patients.
In passing, he tells of a woman who was sick with Marburg. As soon as her husband saw that she had the virus, he got himself and all the children out and locked the door from the outside. He was doing exactly what doctors recommend, but he will never recover from the sounds of his wife all alone and crying for help. I found that one story, probably enacted all over Africa, almost more terrifying than the disease itself.
January 6, 2015
Not what I expected
The book is fairly well written, but lacks any substance about Marburg virus. The book describes well the author's trip in Africa and touches on what life there was like, but fails miserably beyond that. You are really introduced to anything about Marburg until halfway through the book, and then it is but a fleeting glimpse. I feel that the author is merely feeding off of the current Ebola outbreak to pedal his book.
The book is fairly well written, but lacks any substance about Marburg virus. The book describes well the author's trip in Africa and touches on what life there was like, but fails miserably beyond that. You are really introduced to anything about Marburg until halfway through the book, and then it is but a fleeting glimpse. I feel that the author is merely feeding off of the current Ebola outbreak to pedal his book.
October 29, 2014
Interesting inside look
The author gives a personal account of his experience as a journalist moving through a dangerously invisible threat to cover Marburg in Uige. Given the lack of resources and the risk on all sides, I greatly admire the author for his willingness to write a first-hand account. Well written.
The author gives a personal account of his experience as a journalist moving through a dangerously invisible threat to cover Marburg in Uige. Given the lack of resources and the risk on all sides, I greatly admire the author for his willingness to write a first-hand account. Well written.
October 30, 2014
Thoughtful and excellent account
From the frontlines of Marburg. Introspective as well as a detailed report of last decade's response to this illness, now incredibly timely, considering the recent focus on Ebola. Hope to hear more from this incredible reporter, wish him well in his work and with current challenges.
From the frontlines of Marburg. Introspective as well as a detailed report of last decade's response to this illness, now incredibly timely, considering the recent focus on Ebola. Hope to hear more from this incredible reporter, wish him well in his work and with current challenges.
October 20, 2014
Got this as a Kindle freebie. It was a quick and interesting read about the Marburg virus outbreak 10 years ago, as told by a Reuters reporter. It was interesting to read in light of the current Ebola outbreak, and because my Virology class at the BYU was my favorite class ever!
December 8, 2014
A good look at Marburg and comparison to today's Ebola outbreak. Because this book was written by a journalist, rather then a medical professional, it is easy to understand and provides a good, basic primer on the evolution of Marburg, a predecessor of Ebola
December 3, 2014
A glimpse into a deadly outbreak. I enjoyed Apps dispatches during an outbreak of a deadly virus. His writing is thoughtful and gives a glimpse into the life of a young journalist. He describes how everyday life is affected by the outbreak. Interesting read.
November 2, 2014
Quick read. Informative. Hard to believe there's a disease worse than Ebola but there is.
November 25, 2014
A quick read... not sure I'd say it was a great read
March 19, 2020
Interesting
I thoroughly enjoyed this short book on Marburg. Quite interesting how bats get blamed for spreading these deadly viruses. We are currently experiencing the Covid19 pandemic and bats being blamed for that!
I thoroughly enjoyed this short book on Marburg. Quite interesting how bats get blamed for spreading these deadly viruses. We are currently experiencing the Covid19 pandemic and bats being blamed for that!
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