Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Crisis in the Red Zone summary
The Story of the Deadliest Ebola Outbreak in History, and of the Outbreaks to Come
24 mins
Brief summary
Crisis in the Red Zone by Richard Preston is a gripping account of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. It chronicles the lives of the doctors and aid workers who risked their own lives to save others, and highlights the importance of global health preparedness.
Topics
Table of Contents
Crisis in the Red Zone
Summary of 9 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 9
The Ebola virus first emerged in Zaire, Africa in 1976.
On September 9, 1976, a pregnant woman named Sembo Ndobe arrived at the Yambuku Catholic Mission Hospital in Zaire, Africa – now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One of the nurses, Sister Beata, began to help the woman. She immediately saw that the woman was experiencing troubling symptoms, including a fever, inflamed eyes and bleeding gums.
Sister Beata believed that Ms. Ndobe had a form of malaria or a disease known as blackwater fever. While delivering her patient’s child, Sister Beata did what she always did – she used her bare hands.
But this was no typical delivery. Ms. Ndobe was hemorrhaging blood from her birth canal, and the bleeding only worsened once Sister Beata removed her stillborn child. Ms. Ndobe died that day from blood loss and shock. This was not unusual – many women in Africa died from hemorrhage during childbirth.
Five days later, however, Sister Beata began to feel extremely sick. First, she experienced fatigue and fever. This was soon followed by vomiting, diarrhea and severe pain that moved from her abdomen to her spine. Eventually, Sister Beata was projectile vomiting and there was blood in it. Before long, her vomit went from red to black. Her stool was also turning black. She was hemorrhaging blood, and her insides were decomposing.
On September 19, Father Sango Germain, Sister Beata’s friend and colleague, came to her bedside to deliver her last rites. By this time, a rash had developed across Sister Beata’s torso, and her face was expressionless and mask-like. Her eyes were red and inflamed. As Father Germain prayed, Sister Beata began to cry, causing Father Germain to cry as well.
After touching Sister Beata’s forehead and hands with the sign of the cross, Father Germain wiped his friend’s bloody tears away with the same cloth he used to wipe his own tears. Sister Beata soon died. Father Germain died 13 days later.
Before long, the Yambuku Catholic Mission Hospital was filled with patients suffering from the same symptoms as Sister Beata. Nurses began to leave, fearful of this unholy disease. But one nurse did manage to call for help.
Want to see all full key ideas from Crisis in the Red Zone?
Key ideas in Crisis in the Red Zone
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Crisis in the Red Zone about?
Crisis in the Red Zone (2019) presents an engrossing account from the front lines of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. From the first infected patient through the many lives claimed before the crisis was resolved, this is a tragic and hopeful story of what happens when a hidden and dangerous virus reveals itself.
Crisis in the Red Zone Review
Crisis in the Red Zone (2019) by Richard Preston is a riveting account of the Ebola epidemic that struck West Africa. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a compelling narrative that brings the urgency and devastation of the crisis to life, leaving readers on the edge of their seats.
- With meticulous research and intimate interviews, the book presents a deeply human perspective on the doctors, patients, and communities affected by the outbreak.
- The author's engaging storytelling not only captures the scale of the crisis but also sheds light on the heroic efforts of those who fought to contain the disease.
Who should read Crisis in the Red Zone?
- Anyone curious about the Ebola virus
- Those interested in epidemiology and virology
- Fans of real-life heroism and sacrifice
Categories with Crisis in the Red Zone
Book summaries like Crisis in the Red Zone
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Crisis in the Red Zone FAQs
What is the main message of Crisis in the Red Zone?
The main message of Crisis in the Red Zone is the deadly outbreak of Ebola virus and the heroic efforts to contain it.
How long does it take to read Crisis in the Red Zone?
The reading time for Crisis in the Red Zone varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Crisis in the Red Zone a good book? Is it worth reading?
Crisis in the Red Zone is worth reading because it provides a gripping account of a real-life crisis and the remarkable people who fought against it.
Who is the author of Crisis in the Red Zone?
Richard Preston is the author of Crisis in the Red Zone.
What to read after Crisis in the Red Zone?
If you're wondering what to read next after Crisis in the Red Zone, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Chernobyl by Serhii Plokhy
- How Soccer Explains the World by Franklin Foer
- House of Huawei by Eva Dou
- On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
- The Polymath by Waqas Ahmed
- A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume
- How to Skimm Your Life by The Skimm
- Leading by Alex Ferguson
- The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki