Animal Quote by David Quammen
“Viruses have to live somewhere. They can only replicate in living creatures. So, when the Ebola virus disappears between outbreaks, it has to be living in some reservoir host, presumably some species of animal.”
About This Quote
Viruses persist by inhabiting reservoir species between outbreaks, making animal hosts essential to their life cycle and epidemiology.
In simple terms: Reservoir hosts sustain viruses between epidemics.
Animal reservoirs enable viral continuity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Wildlife monitoring, Pandemic preparedness, Veterinary research
Key Concepts
Practical Applications
- Identify and monitor reservoir populations
- Develop cross‑species vaccination strategies
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors drive a virus to switch hosts?
- How can we disrupt reservoir transmission?