abscess
an area of inflamed or swollen tissue in the body that is filled with pus
affinity
a natural liking or attraction to something
agonal
relating to agony, particularly near death
AIDS
A disease of the immune system caused by a virus. Also known as the acquired immunodeficiency virus.
alleviate
to lessen the pain of something
Andromeda strain
a hypothetical infectious pathogen with the ability to mutate unpredictably and resist destruction
antechamber
a small room leading into a larger one
anthrax
an infectious disease caused by a spore-forming bacterium
aperitif
an alcoholic beverage typically taken as an appetizer
automaton
a machine that can move independently; also a person who acts in a mechanical way
avert
to turn away
bemused
confused or preoccupied
biocontainment
the containment of materials that are potentially hazardous to life
biological agent
any virus, toxin, or bacterium that could potentially be used in biological warfare
Biosafety level
the level of containment precautions necessary to isolate biological agents in an enclosed facility.
Biosafety level 1
This level is used for biological agents that do not typically cause disease in adult humans and present minimal danger to laboratory personnel
Biosafety level 2
the level of containment precautions necessary to isolate agents of moderate danger to humans
Biosafety level 3
the level of containment precautions necessary to isolate agents that can cause serious and fatal disease in humans for which treatments exist. Examples include West Nile virus, rabies, and yellow fever.
Biosafety level 4
the level of containment precautions necessary to isolate agents that can cause severe and fatal disease in humans for which treatments do not exist. Examples include Ebola virus, Marburg virus, and smallpox.
bloat
to expand or swell
blood serum
liquid that separates from blood after it clots
botulism
a serious disease caused by eating spoiled food
cacophony
loud and harsh sounds
cadaver
a dead body
callus
a thick, hardened part of the skin
carnage
extensive slaughter or death
claustrophobia
fear of small or enclosed spaces
coagulate
to change from a liquid to a thickened mass
conduit
a pipe or tube, typically for conveying fluid
contemplate
to consider thoughtfully
contention
dispute or disagreement
corrugated
wrinkled or folded
crash and bleed
military slang meaning to hemorrhage from multiple orifices before dying suddenly
cringing
to shrink back or cower
cryptic
mysterious or secret
dappled
covered in spots of different shapes and colors
decontamination
the process of cleaning an object to remove biological hazards and other harmful substances
delirious
suffering from a disorder of the mental faculties (often caused by fever)
dementia
loss of intellectual capacity due to brain damage
depersonalize
to deprive of individuality and personality
despondent
hopeless
deteriorate
to worsen over time
dialysis
the medical process of removing blood from a person, cleaning it, and returning it to the person
diamond knife
a sharp knife with an edge made from diamond. Frequently used for scientific and medical procedures.
diatribe
a bitter verbal attack
disheveled
untidy
dregs
the last remaining part
ebola
a lethal filovirus from the tropics with three known sub-types: Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, and Ebola Reston. Closely related to the Marburg virus.
enigma
difficult to understand or explain
envirochem
liquid disinfectant used in chemical showers.
epicenter
focal point
epistaxis
nose bleed
euthanize
to kill, often in order to end suffering
expatriate
a resident in a foreign country; also, an exiled person
extreme amplification
multiplication of a virus throughout the host
febrile
feverish
ferocity
fierceness
filovirus
In Latin, "thread virus." The filovirus family consists of four simlar viruses: Marburg, Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, and Ebola Reston. Each strain consists of seven proteins, four of which are unknown.
gangrene
the decay of tissue caused by a lack of blood supply
grackle
a type of blackbird
guano
excrement or dung from birds and bats, frequently used as fertilizer
gurney
a wheeled stretcher used to transport patients
hemophilia
a genetic disorder that affects blood clotting
hemorrhage
severe bleeding that is difficult to control
hemostat
a surgical clamp used to constrict blood vessels
HIV
human immunodeficiency virus. A retrovirus that causes AIDS by infecting the immune system.
host
a plant or animal that harbors a parasite, such as a virus
hostile
angry and aggressive
hot agent
a deadly virus for which there is no vaccine and no cure
hot zone; hot area
an area containing lethal and/or infectious organisms
ICU
intensive care unit
imperceptible
difficult to perceive
implacable
impossible to appease or calm
incinerate
to burn to ashes
incubation
the development of an infectious disease or virus from the time of infection through the appearance of symptoms
index case
the first known case in a viral outbreak
inscrutable
difficult to understand
invasive
displaying a tendency to spread into healthy tissue
jaundice
a medical condition in which a person's skin and eyes turn yellow
laryngoscope
a medical instrument used to examine the larynx
lesion
an infected patch of skin
lethargy
a state of inactivity and apathy
liquefaction
the process of turning into a liquid
Marburg virus
A virus that first appeared at the Behring Works vaccine factory in Marburg, Germany in 1967 and demonstrated a 1 in 4 kill rate. Belongs to a family of viruses known as the filoviruses.
mattock
a digging tool with a flat blade
Mayinga strain
A particularly deadly strain of Ebola virus, named for a nurse who died from it in 1976.
monosyllabic
using short, one-syllable words
necropsy
the examination of a body after death
nimble
quick and light in movement
oblong
an object with an elongated shape, such as a rectangle or an ellipse
opalescent
displaying a milky shimmer similar to an opal
parasite
an organism that lives on or inside another species
paroxysm
an outburst of emotion; also, a sudden attack by a disease
pastoral
relating to country-life; rural
pathologist
A scientist who studies the nature of disease and its causes
petechiae
a purplish spot on the skin caused by a small hemorrhage
prehensile
adapted for grabbing or holding
promontory
a ridge of land that juts out into a body of water
putrid
rotten
quarantine
enforced isolation to prevent the spread of a contagious disease
racal suit
a space suit with a battery-powered air supply used for biohazard fieldwork
ravage
devastate
recurrent
happening again or repeatedly
regurgitate
to throw up or vomit
replicate
to make exact copies of
rongeur
Forceps used to cut through bone and heavy tissue. In French, "gnawer."
savanna
a tropical grassland
scrutinize
to examine closely
sentinel animal
an animal used to detect risk to humans from an environmental factor, such as a virus.
SHF
Simian hemorrhagic fever. A virus found in monkeys that is harmless to humans.
silo
a tall structure used for storing feed
skeptical
given to doubt or questioning
slough
to shed or cast off
spleen
an organ near the stomach that produces white blood cells
sputum
a combination of saliva and mucus expelled from the lungs
sullen
sulky and bad-tempered
tarpaulin
a large piece of waterproof material used to cover things
unequivocal
strong and clear, without doubt
USAMRIID
The United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, in Frederick, Maryland. Also referred to as "the Institute."
vector
a carrier or transporter of a virus
vomito negro
black vomit associated with the ebola virus and yellow fever
