“OUTBREAK” Movie Assignment



“OUTBREAK” Movie Assignment The film, Outbreak, portrays the efforts of an army virologist, Sam Daniels, to prevent a global biological disaster. A rare killer virus from the African jungle has started an epidemic in a small northern California commu7nity. The virus has a 100% mortality rate. The film follows the scientists and army officers as they trace the epidemic and seek to contain it. The story in the film is fictional BUT could something like this really happen? The questions in Part 1 are listed for you to answer and use to digest what is occurring in the movie. You must take notes and answer the questions during the movie. Part 2, which can be done after you view the movie, is a list of things that happened during the story. Some of them seem to be minor incidents, but each one has importance in advancing plot. Your job is to tell how each event is important to the story. Part 3, covers overall discussion questions summarizing and examining the occurrences of the movie. This is to be typed and answered in formal format. Citations could be used in this section. Part 1 - Chronological Order Movie Questions Why was the mercenary camp in the Motaba River Valley of Zaire bombed in 1967? Was this ethical? Explain. At first, it seems like they are trying to eradicate the disease since it’s so deadly, but later on in the movie, you find out that it’s actually because General McClintock wants to use the virus as a biological weapon to protect the United States. He of course hides this information from the President and says that Motaba needs to be bombed because the virus is so lethal. In the film, we see a progression of laboratory safety levels at the U.S. Army Medical research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Below is a description of each level. As one progresses from level to level, describe the differences shown and the procedures and safety methods observed. Biosafety Level 1 (BS1) - Minimum biohazard; study of low risk infectious agents: Pneumococcus, and Salmonella. Lab coatsBiosafety Level 2 (BS2) - Moderate biohazard; infectious agents: hepatitis, Lyme Disease, and Influenza. Lab coats and masksBiosafety Level 3 (BS3) - High biohazard; multiple vaccinations required; infectious agents: infectious agents: anthraz, typhus, and HIV. Lab coats, masks, gloves, isolation gownsBiosafety Level 4 (BS4) - Extreme biohazard; maximum security; high virulent; no known cures or vaccines; infectious agents: Ebola, Lassa, and Hanta viruses. Isolation suits, masks, heavy duty gloves, disinfectant chambersWhy were Sam Daniels and his crew sent to the Motaba Valley, Zaire? To investigate the disease that was killing so many villagersHow did the mystery disease get to the Motaba Valley? One of the surviving men in the village stated that it came from a local villager who caught it while working on a railroad (he most likely was bitten by an infected monkey), and then came back to the village, drank from the communal village well and spread it to the rest of the villagersWhat is the tribesman's explanation of why the disease was affecting the tribe? Do you feel that there could be any truth to the explanation? Justify your answer. Because the men were cutting down the trees, they awakened the gods and in retaliation the gods sent this disease as punishment.(a) What are the characteristics of the mystery disease? AND (b) Why was it said that the virus was contained? Pink lesions that ooze blood and pus, flu-like symptoms, vomiting, diarrhea, hemorrhage and liquefying of intestinesWhy did Casey show so much concern about the small tear in Daniels' suit as they were about to enter the BS4 area of the lab? Because they deal with dangerous diseases everyday. An exposure to the air could mean instant infection, depending on the virus. Also, it shows that they’re not on their toes, if they miss a small yet important detail such as a rip. If they can miss a small rip, they can miss many important details that may be important to their survival and to the discovery of a cure for these diseases.One of the staff describes the name “Motaba virus” as sounding like the name of a perfume…”one drop and you'll feel so different, your sweetheart will melt in your arms.” How did these words have a prophetic significance? There were several scenes in the movies where people infected with the Motaba virus had loved ones who deteriorated in their arms due to the disease.What measures were taken in Cedar Creek to contain the outbreak? Citizens were quarantined, meaning they weren’t allowed to leave the town and no one was allowed to come in.They incinerated (burned) dead bodies rather than bury themAll infected people were instructed to go to the hospital for further observations What was Operation Clean Sweep? Why did many officials think it was necessary? Operation Clean Sweep was a plan to drop a bomb on the town of Cedar Creek in order to kill all of the officials with the virus. Officials were thinking that it was necessary because the virus was lethal and they were not aware that there was a cure. What was the reason that the E-1101 antiserum against Motaba virus kept a secret? Because General McClintock wanted to use the Motaba virus as a biological weapon, but if there were a cure, then that would weaken the effectiveness of the virus as a weapon.Why was Daniels so intent on capturing the monkey in Palisades, California? After capturing the monkey, what were Daniels and his team able to do? Because the monkey in Palisades, CA had the original virus and they could make an antiserum from it that would cure infected people.How did Daniels prevent the success of Operation Clean Sweep? Daniels spoke with the military officials in charge of dropping the bomb and persuaded them to do the right thing by not dropping the bomb onto the people and destroying innocent lives as well as the cure to the virus.Part 2 - Each of these incidents from the film has some significance to the story. Describe how each one is important either in the spread of the epidemic or in efforts to trace and contain it. The disease affects many people at the mercenary camp on Motaba Valley, Zaire. It does both.Spread: the monkey with the virus survives and thus spread this disease to other humans, who then spread it to other peopleTrace and contain: from this epidemic, Generals Ford and McClintock are able to obtain a blood sample from dying victims in order to make an anti-serum.The camp in Zaire is firebombed. Spreads: monkeys flee Zaire and go somewhere else, taking the disease with themTrace and contain: seemingly, all people infected with the virus are now dead.Daniels receives a telephone call as he is bathing the dogs. Trace and containThe new man on the team is briefed before leaving for Zaire. Trace and containThe monkey is trapped in the Motaba Valley. Trace and containA phone call is made by Jimbo Scott from the animal holding facility in San Jose, California. SpreadThe monkey scratches Rudy Alvarez at the pet shop. SpreadJimbo Scott releases the monkey into the woods in California. SpreadHenry Seward, hospital laboratory technician, is accidentally sprayed with Rudy Alvarez' blood from a tube in the centrifuge. SpreadJimbo Scott kisses Allison at Logan Airport in Boston. SpreadHenry Seward coughs during a movie in a crowded thearter. SpreadA patient is discovered at Cedar Creek Hospital who has the disease but has no contact with others who are sick. SpreadTwo different strains of the Motaba virus are discovered in Cedar Creek. Trace and containCasey becomes ill. SpreadRobbie is stuck with a needle that she was injecting into Casey. SpreadThe dead man is found on the ship and a picture of a monkey is found above his bunk. Trace and containMrs. Jeffries sees a picture of the monkey on television. Trace and containDaniels' helicopter blocks the path of the airplane carrying the firebomb. Trace and containOverall Questions Describe how the virologists determined the identity of the virus causing the disease, how they tracked the epidemic and how they eventually conquered the virus. Determined: took samples, looked through microscope to determine characteristicsWhy was the Motaba Virus so dangerous after it mutated? Because it became airborneIf a virus, just like the Motaba virus in the movie, were to break out in a Canadian city, do you think it would be acceptable to do what the government had planned? Explain your answer. Answer: Your opinionConsider your answer to the last question. Would your opinion change if the lives of the rest of Canada depended on it? What about the rest of the world? Answer: Your opinionDo you think it is okay to sacrifice human life for the benefit of other humans? Explain. What would the Catholic Churches perspective be on this topic? Answer: Your opinionHow does the movie relate to your everyday life? What things can you do to prevent or limit contamination from any virus? At the beginning of the film is a quote by Nobel Prize Winner Joshua Lederberg. “The single biggest threat to man's continued dominance on this planet is the virus” Discuss this quote. Do you agree with it? Why or why not? What evidence from this film supports Lederberg's view? What evidence from other sources that you have read or viewed lends support? What do you feel is significant about Lederberg's statement in light of recent news regarding bioterrorism? What do you fell will be the future of human dominance on Earth? Support your views with facts and logical thought. ................
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