The Hot Zone

The Hot Zone (/ðə hɒt zoʊn/) is a term often used in medical and epidemiological contexts to refer to an area where a high-risk infectious disease is prevalent. The term gained popularity after the publication of Richard Preston's 1994 non-fiction book, "The Hot Zone," which detailed the origins and incidents involving viral hemorrhagic fevers, particularly Ebola and Marburg viruses.

Etymology

The term "Hot Zone" is derived from the English words "hot," meaning high temperature or intensity, and "zone," referring to a specific area or region. In this context, it signifies an area of intense pathogen activity or disease prevalence.

Related Terms

Epidemic: A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
Pandemic: An epidemic of disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents, or worldwide.
Endemic: A disease or condition regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.
Outbreak: A sudden occurrence of cases of a disease in a particular place.
Infectious Disease: Disorders caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.
Viral Hemorrhagic Fever: A severe multisystem syndrome caused by infection with certain RNA viruses.
Ebola: A rare but deadly virus that causes fever, body aches, and diarrhea, and sometimes bleeding inside and outside the body.
Marburg Virus: A severe and highly fatal disease caused by a virus from the same family as the one that causes Ebola virus disease.