May 2019 - Vol. 14, No. 5
Top Stories
Hot Zone spotlights Drs. Nancy and Jerry Jaax
Two Kansas State University veterinarians and leaders — Drs. Nancy and Jerry Jaax — and their response to a novel Ebola strain outbreak have inspired the upcoming National Geographic limited series, THE HOT ZONE.
Kansas State University hosted an advance screening of the premiere of THE HOT ZONE May 7 followed by a panel discussion with the real-life subjects of the series.
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Drs. Nancy and Jerry Jaax, DVM classes of 1973 and 1972 respectively, answered question from the audience along with the showrunners, writers and executive producers Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders. The six-part limited series premieres on National Geographic at 8 p.m. on Monday, May 27, and will air over three nights. Julianna Margulies plays Lt. Col. Nancy Jaax and Noah Emmerich plays Lt. Col. Jerry Jaax. THE HOT ZONE is based on the 1994 best-seller by Richard Preston and is inspired by the true story of the arrival of Ebola on U.S. soil in 1989 in Reston, Virginia. The story involves two prominent Kansas State University leaders: Nancy and Jerry Jaax. Both graduated with veterinary medicine degrees from the university and served with the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, during which time they became involved in the events depicted in the series. Following the events of 1989 and after stellar military careers, Jerry and Nancy returned to Manhattan. Jerry joined the university and served in a prominent research leadership position to further the university’s biodefense mission. Nancy participated in innumerable infectious disease initiatives at the university. Both Jerry and Nancy played important roles in the development of Kansas State University’s biocontainment facility called the Biosecurity Research Institute, or BRI, at Pat Roberts Hall. "Nancy and Jerry Jaax are renowned leaders, scientists and veterans," Kansas State University President Richard Myers said. "We are honored that National Geographic is telling their story through THE HOT ZONE and we want to recognize these two K-Staters for their bravery and heroic research contributions. Leaders like Nancy and Jerry Jaax are true examples of what makes K-State the 'Silicon Valley for biodefense.'"
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