Analysis of the Movie “Contagion”
- What country did the disease originate in? What two types of animals did this virus develop in before it made the jump to infecting humans? Who was the first person infected?
- What type of infectious agent was this, and what was its specific name?
- What are fomites,
and which character in the movie explained how fomites can be involved in
the transmission of infectious disease?
- What is the
difference between a sign and a
symptom of disease? What are
the signs and symptoms of the disease featured in this movie?
- How long did it
take a person infected with this disease to develop symptoms? About how
long from time of exposure to death? What was the average number of people
that an infected person would directly transmit the infection to?
- Why was the blogger
Alan Krumwiede (played by Jude Law) considered such a threat? At best he
believed he was helping the public, at worst, he was just trying to make
money by exploiting the situation. Regardless, his actions were making
things worse. Explain how.
- Dr. Leonora Orantes
(Marion Cotillard), a World Health Organization epidemiologist, was
kidnapped. Why? Did the kidnappers get what they wanted? Explain.
- Dr. Ellis Cheever
(played by Lawrence Fishburne) was a medical official with the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. What did he get in trouble for doing, and
why?
- Before a vaccine
can be developed, researchers need to find a way to grow the infectious
agent in a laboratory. The problem with this microbe was that it quickly
killed any in vitro cells the researchers infected. What type of cell do
researchers eventually find that allows them to successfully grow the
microbe in the lab?
- Dr. Ally Hextall
(played by Jennifer Ehle) was the main character working on development of
a vaccine. She eventually injected herself with one of the experimental
vaccines she developed. She then went to visit her father who was sick. In
doing so, she purposely exposed herself to the illness. While visiting her
father, they discussed the parallels between what she had just done and
the work of Dr. Barry Marshall. Who was Barry Marshall, and in what way
was his scientific work similar to that of the fictional Dr. Hextall?
- Alan Krumwiede
(Jude Law) ingested Forsythia when he began feeling ill, and he ultimately
did not get the disease. Why can one not conclude that the Forsythia
prevented Alan from developing the disease? Please give a detailed
response. There are several reasons why we cannot conclude that Forsythia
cured him.
PART II:
Directions: Please answer the
following questions. Please answer in complete sentences.
1.
Who
is patient zero? "Patient zero was discovered to be __________".
2.
Why
did her husband not get infected?
3. What was the role of the CDC
(Centers for Disease Control) in the film?
4. What part does private
industry play in fighting this epidemic?
5. What is the name of the
worldwide organization that deals with the outbreak?
6. What role did social media
play in the outbreak?
7. What were the origins of
this virus? (species origins)
8. What were the modes of transmission
of this disease?
9. Would this virus be
categorized as an emerging virus? Why?
10. How realistic do you think
this film was? Explain in a well- developed paragraph.
In one paragraph, describe the
ethical issues you felt were presented in the film.
