The three possible sources of infection were the elephant dung, the green slime and the crystals. Monet and his friend are thought to have walked over dry and powdery elephant dung, that includes the dung as they walked into the cave. (Preston 11). The elephants could’ve eaten something and when Monet stepped in to or over it there could’ve been some contact with his foot and the dung. Another source could be the green slime, which was really bat guano. Monet could’ve accidently touched the slime and come in contact with the viruses. Another source could be the crystals in the cave which could have pricked Monet’s finger.(Preston 12). There could be more than just three sources because Monet noticed a lot of things in the cave. There was also some black guano found in the cave, this was the ooze from the digested insects that the bats ate. (Preston 13). It could’ve been possible that Monet would’ve put his finger in the guano. Monet saw bodies of dead elephants. In relation to this there could have been flies or mosquitoes and maybe other bugs feeding on these dead bodies and maybe they could’ve bit Monet and injected the animals blood into him. It also depends on how long the bodies were there in the cave. Since they weren’t well equipped they could’ve come in contact with a lot of things in the cave. Since the cave had dead animals, bones, bats, insects and some other bugs; any of these could’ve carried the virus and came in contact with Monet.
It is also possible that Monet never actually came into contact with any of the slime, guano, or crystals. Ebola, marburg, and their related viruses are very potent; they have the ability to travel on dust particles and on tiny droplets of water. The fact that "the walls are coated with green slime" (Preston 11), guano, littered with dead elephants, and other wet potential sources of infection account for the presence of water particles in the air by form of evaporation. It is highly possible that all Monet ever did in the cave was the simple act of breathing. The other three sources that Sindarvani stated are also good hypotheses, but the versatile and airborne nature of the virus shouldn't be ignored when trying to find methods of infection.
The three possible sources of infection were the elephant dung, the green slime and the crystals. Monet and his friend are thought to have walked over dry and powdery elephant dung, that includes the dung as they walked into the cave. (Preston 11). The elephants could’ve eaten something and when Monet stepped in to or over it there could’ve been some contact with his foot and the dung. Another source could be the green slime, which was really bat guano. Monet could’ve accidently touched the slime and come in contact with the viruses. Another source could be the crystals in the cave which could have pricked Monet’s finger.(Preston 12). There could be more than just three sources because Monet noticed a lot of things in the cave. There was also some black guano found in the cave, this was the ooze from the digested insects that the bats ate. (Preston 13). It could’ve been possible that Monet would’ve put his finger in the guano. Monet saw bodies of dead elephants. In relation to this there could have been flies or mosquitoes and maybe other bugs feeding on these dead bodies and maybe they could’ve bit Monet and injected the animals blood into him. It also depends on how long the bodies were there in the cave. Since they weren’t well equipped they could’ve come in contact with a lot of things in the cave. Since the cave had dead animals, bones, bats, insects and some other bugs; any of these could’ve carried the virus and came in contact with Monet.
ReplyDeleteIt is also possible that Monet never actually came into contact with any of the slime, guano, or crystals. Ebola, marburg, and their related viruses are very potent; they have the ability to travel on dust particles and on tiny droplets of water. The fact that "the walls are coated with green slime" (Preston 11), guano, littered with dead elephants, and other wet potential sources of infection account for the presence of water particles in the air by form of evaporation. It is highly possible that all Monet ever did in the cave was the simple act of breathing. The other three sources that Sindarvani stated are also good hypotheses, but the versatile and airborne nature of the virus shouldn't be ignored when trying to find methods of infection.
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