Hi Anderson,
I guess we all have a thing or two to learn about the huge issues and dangers we face as a world community. Life is as fragile as it’s ever been and in a global world, we are literally all in this together. Stay safe, all of you.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

All these diseases…my hats off to the scientists who do all this research so that we may hopefully find ways to combat them. Thanks, Anderson and team, for making the trip there so we can be informed by you.

Take care and safe travels,
Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Hey Anderson

It sounds like you’ve had a busy couple of days. The life of the hunters sounds really difficult. Our idea of a bad day getting food is a long line at the supermarket, idiot drivers pulling out in front of you, and prices that are too high. We never have to worry about not having food; unless you were in Hurricane Katrina.

Nathan Wolfe appears to be a very dedicated man who takes his work very seriously. It’s scary to think where we would be without people like him. The information on AIDS was all new to me. We take the fact that we live in a global community for granted, but it looks like there are drawbacks to our being so connected. Please be careful over there and take all precautions. We wouldn’t want you to get sick. Bringing us the latest news and information is important, but so is your health.

Thanks for blogging and stay safe.

Sounds like you are having an interesting time in Africa, Anderson. I am really looking forward to PIP II. It sounds like it is going to be FANTASTIC.

PS Hope you’re over your jet lag and getting some restful sleep.

Hi Anderson!!
I must say I am extremely happy that stories like this are getting covered. As a biology major myself I am well aware of all of the terrible things out there and the wonderful advancements in science to try and help. I thank you for showing the public that scientists work hard too ,even if people don’t realize it . Stay safe and congratulations on the outstanding work you do.
Keila from Miami

Wow Anderson this piece sounds so interesting. Sort of reminds me of that movie “Outbreak” with Dustin Hoffman. A very interesting movie for sure. I am really looking forward to seeing what you and Sanjay having been working on in Cameroon. Continued safe travels to you and your team

That is such fascinating information!

Hi Anderson,
Wow! that’s so awful!!!!! too bad for chimpanzee have virus to contact other monkey or humans… They didn’t protect each other as well, I don’t want you do that contact virus from monkey or chimpanzee…. too scary for me, I am praying so hard for you and Nathan Wolfe, It is so hard to beat disease against virus, I know that was so difficult to do contact other people or monkeys…….. I missed you so much on AC360 and blog, Please take care yourself, and stay safe in Younde, the capital of Cameroon………. I am forwarding to see your program Planet In Peril next fall….. Thanks for sharing with me this blog! Please you need more blog how are you doing…. let me know…….
Megan D.
Shoreline, WA

Hi Anderson,

Great to hear from you. So appreciate you keeping us posted on your travels. Fascinating stuff.

I have to tell you that your report is incredibly daunting. Most of what you have said here was total surprise to me. Amazing. Not to mention disturbing. I also had no idea that this is where the AIDS epidemic began.

Kudos to the scientists that go to these incredible places, at major risk to themselves to keep us all safe and healthy. I cannot imagine what it is like to be there, let alone do the jobs that they do. The conditions must be something else! Hats off to you for going there and reporting on these important developments.

Please stay safe and be well. Best to you all.

Anderson this all sounds very interesting but also very scary. It’s great to know that someone like Nathan Wolfe and his researchers are trying to find, catalog and get the word out there of potential viruses that might harm the worlds population. It’s really great that all of you are taking this all to heart because no one else seems to.

And as they used to say on Hill Street Blues:

“Let’s be careful out there.”

Anderson,

Your report shows how interconnected we all are on this planet. What happens in Africa does not stay in Africa. And of course we should not be surprised by any of these findings–look what happened to the Native American population with the introduction of small pox by the Europeans. And how the native Hawaiians were decimated by the diseases they caught after paddling out to greet Capt. Cook and his crew. Nothing new under the sun.

Stay safe and I hope the CNN crew got shots for everything you could before you left. At least you have a doctor in residence. Take care and looking forward to seeing and hearing more about your adventures.

Charlotte D, Stockton CA

Anderson,
Hey…guess that Ambien kicked in real good!! You disappeared on us! Thought we had lost ya! LOL

It seems to me that the government would do more for these people so that they wouldn’t have to forage deeper into the jungles and end up eating these animals with viruses. Hopefully with more knowledge about this something can be done for them.

Hopefully we will see another report from you soon! Thanks for keeping us updated. And please stay safe.

Cindy…Ga.

Anderson, without any doubt in the following sentence which gives a brief summary to your role in today’ss televsion journalism is totally correct. You have taken it upon yourself to go to extrordinary lengthd to find out the entire truth whenever you have performed interviews on The CNN televsion network. Your strength of character has been magnificently displayed on the current trip that you are making. Both of your colleagues at CNN, Wolf Blitzer and Christian Amanpour also have unique and totally fearless interviewing qualities and between the three of you , television journalism in North America has been totally revived, hopefully for many more years.

Hi Anderson,
Thought we had lost you for a little while. Good to see you again.
The news about HIV & Aids was news to me also. Thank you for the update. I have also read about monkeypox, & the people who came in contact with it. It sounds potentially very dangerous.

Please keep the info coming. I, for one, am learning a lot. Thanks to Wolfe & the other researchers who live precarious lives in the jungle, so that we all may be better informed.

Hope you are getting some rest too. Your pic looks very good.

Please stay safe, all of you. You are missed on AC 360 & the blog, but thanks again for sharing. Be careful.

Dear Anderson,

Fascinating post! After reading it this afternoon the first question that came to mind was how are you and the 360 crew protecting yourselves from these viruses, especially the ones in the early stages of being understood? It seems like a terribly risky thing to do especially for you with your history of malaria.

These viruses add an entirely new dangerous dimension to the black market animal trade that you discussed during last year’s Planet in Peril. It is frightening to imagine all of these animals being shipped all over the world without being tested for diseases like the ones you mentioned.

I am sure this will sound naïve, but, as a vegetarian, I would like to know if any deadly diseases in that area have been linked to the consumption of plants and vegetables.

Thank you for making this effort to bring the work of these dedicated scientists to the attention of your audience so that we can really appreciate the important work being done by these unsung heroes.

Take care of yourself,
Jo Ann
North Royalton, Ohio

P.S. Thanks to Jeff for the gorgeous photo.

Anderson, you don’t have even the slightest bit of fear, do you?

I could not do it - I would be scared all of the time. You definitely are a unique reporter. I hope you have a wonderful experience and learn a lot.

P.S. - You and your research friends please don’t bring any strange diseases back to the United States.

I’m really looking forward to the next installment of Planet in Peril. And I’m sure I speak for many when I say that I appreciate these field reports.

I’m curious, though, and maybe you can address this on another blog, but are there specific precautions you, your crew and the scientists you travel with have to take because of the diseases you might run across?

Anderson,
What interesting research! Hopefully, if scientists can identify potential diseases, they can find vaccines so people don’t become infected. These pandemics are scary. What early warning system are these scientists thinking of?
Should be an interesting report. Have a safe trip.

Anderson,
Hi. It’s great to see your writing. 360 hasn’t been the same this week without you. Your time in Cameroon sounds fascinating. I’d say your investigation is a strong advocate for vegetarianism, but people have been too recently threatened by a widespread salmonella outbreak. I look forward to your video reporting later. Stay safe in your continued travel.

Anderson, thanks for telling us the history of AIDS. I knew that it had started in Africa, but I don’t think I had ever heard the whole story.

I want to add my wishes that everyone else has stated, that you and all of the360 crew, to please take caution when you are around these animals since none of you know for sure what kind of diseases these animals might carry.

Be safe.

Anderson, Be careful out there. Make sure you take a good hot shower as much as possible after going out in the forest. And don’t put your hands near any mucus membranes or any opening of you body until you really clean them you don’t really know what touched what you just touched. O.k. I’ll stop being paranoid.lol. Just be safe. And have fun, to! Hope to see your next report soon!

Hey Anderson,

WOW!

Glad you’re back in touch, we were all getting worried.

Please stay safe there and don’t get too close to anything!

First and foremost, take care. Wash your hands and don’t eat anything unless you know what it is…yikes!

I wonder if these diseases/viruses have any relation to non-kosher species of animals, as defined in the book of Leviticus? The bible says don’t touch non-kosher animals, don’t touch dead animals, don’t eat non-kosher animals, don’t ingest their blood.

Maybe that is the key to staying healthy.

I hope you brought colloidal silver just in case…yikes.

Can’t they clear an area to raise domestic animals and stop reaching further and further into this area? It seems like a Pandora’s box to go looking for food there.

Do these viruses kill the animals that are their host? or are they just carriers?

It must seem so fascinating there, to look all around and only see nature.

Don’t get lost.

Are there any special precautions you, or your crew, or the scientists have to take to safeguard you against these diseases? It seems very dangerous, but we do have to know about these viruses in order to potentially protect everyone. You, Anderson, & the rest are really brave, especially because you have had malaria. All of you, be safe.

It appears you have been in the presence of the guru. I think I’m almost more jealous of this than the gorilla watching. Dr. Wolfe’s work is very fascinating. Apparently this is his passion (based on the amount of data he’s published, grant monies he’s received, and research he’s conducted with others on these topics over the years). It’s good to know everyone isn’t stuck in the ivory tower. I’ll be interested to read in the professional journals what he and his team come up with next and to see how this is applied and used to better help humankind battle these often deadly illnesses. I’d really like to see if his research can somehow be used to answer the questions that will lead to even more effective treatments and dare I hope cures for diseases like HIV. It is extremely important that his research be shared on PIP2 because people other than the journal reading nerds need to know about this, too.

And now for my inner mother hen…Anderson, be cautious within reason. Enjoy it, too. People don’t often get to work with the gurus on topics as important as this.

Fascinating report! There is so much the average person does not know about.

I wish we would get to see more reports of what you guys are doing on 360. But I guess, like everyone else, I have just to be patient and wait to see all reports in length once the second installment of Planet in Peril is aired in fall.
For once I wish time would go by faster!

Interesting information Anderson. The next installment of Planet in Peril should be good…Don’t be gone too long Anderson, I may forget what you look like!

Anderson, while I hate to sound disrespectful of his work, I have to ask you what the point of Mr Wolfe’s research is.
He wants to “set up an early warning system” ? And then what? Is his goal to find remedies for these potential epidemics? How will he get the money to do the research? If it hasn’t killed scores of people yet, especially in the western world, he’s not going to get a dime for research.
Also, viruses love to mutate. So even if he does find money to study and find a cure for the disease caused by one virus (fat chance!) , what if the virus mutates? There are already 3 or 4 different versions of Ebola out there, and there might be more that haven’t been uncovered yet.
So instead of rummaging through the wilderness disturbing unknown viruses that lie dormant, why not just focus on the ones that we know about ?
I find viruses highly fascinating, and I pity the people who are in the paths of those killers. But the more the vast jungle gets disturbed by humans, the more killer - diseases will emerge.

One adapted African Christian prayer of blessing instructs the person officiating to sprinkle water or another substance such as flour or incense in the four directions of the universe while saying:

Facing east: “For our ancestors of the distant past.”
Facing west: “For our recent living dead.”
Facing north: “For our living.”
Facing south: “For our yet unborn.”

Stay safe!!

Anderson, you truly amaze all of us! Your report is so fascinating…so informative. I always feel like I learn so much, just by reading your blogs. I just love your writing style! =) I have wanted to be a journalist ever since I started watching your show and when I read your book. You have inspired me so much, but I don’t think I have the courage, the strength, or the ability to do what you do. I don’t stand a chance!

I look forward to seeing more reports of your trip. Oh, and also, Jeff Hutchens has taken beautiful photos! Hope to see more…

Anderson,

I just hope that none of this research is being funded by the any departments of the military; which could use it to develop biological weapons under the guise of developing treatments for mankind. Can we even trust the CDC?

Anderson, great to hear from you! I can’t wait till Planet in Peril 2!!
I also agree with the others, you don’t have any fear do you? Hope you are safe wherever you are. Take care of yourself!

Like the other viewers, I too, will be looking forward to the next installment of the PIP series.

Y’all be careful out there in the jungle! Watch out for each other and don’t bring back anything that should be left there! LOL

Prayers of good health and safety on this amazing journey to you and the team you’re travelling with Anderson.

Hey Anderson,
Reading your blogs with great interest. You have no idea how much positive effect your probitive reporting has on our world. Due to your never-ending efforts in New Orleans, CNN has done it again. The report tonight on the $85,000,000 worth of new inventory FEMA ordered for Katrina victims, kept in a warehouse, forgotten, then shipped out anywhere other than its rightful destination, was horrific. Heads should roll over this fiasco. Pardon me for getting off your present topic, but I had to sound off to someone whom I believe can get to the bottom of this outrage.
Looking forward to seeing PIP 2 in the Fall. Thanks for all you do.

Wow, Anderson this is fascinating. I am looking forward to more stories from the trail. Amazing series Planet in Peril is, keep up the good work.

By the way, like the new site update. Hey do yall have more pictures you can share?

now I know why Africa has so many cases of AIDS.

About how hard it is to be there - in the forest working - I don’t ever want to go there and do that - I love the insight I get from it though - Thank you.

You lead a fascinating life Anderson. Be careful “Boo”

Hey, I know you’re tired of the reference to your “Boo” remark but I just couldn’t resist the temptation

U and the crew are in my prayers.

Anderson

What a lot of “new” to us diseases; scary thought that we may have to battle those in the years to come. I had heard already about Ebola and that disease is nightmare material. I hope the epidemiologists can find cures for these diseases quickly.

Your trip sounds really interesting and I’m looking forward to hearing more about it. In the meantime, be careful and stay safe.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

hi Anderson ,
i always love your blog and this one from africa is very good . listen when i was in Africa in 1981 i heard people say that the HIV viruse was given to humans by Monkeys because people live with animals in africa . he could be true because i know in Africa people there eat some crazy thing and i know what i am talking about .
so i hope you bring some answers from there and just some advise always ask what kind meat is before eat you never know be carefur !!!!!!
so long Anderson
Olga In

Hi Anderson,

Great information. Looking forward to PIP 2.

They say there are viruses in the Amazon that are even deadlier than AIDS. The ebola virus is like something from a horror movie. Just a few years ago, there was an outbreak of ebola caused by someone eating an infected monkey.

Anderson & friends - you all may want to film a bit in Iowa for the next Planet in Peril series (if it wasn’t already on your list).

This is not PIP2,it’s sounds more like Indiana Jones CNN version.
So,guys don’t fall in love with any She-chimp.
Stay safe!

Minou,

Hmmmm….. Well said.

JPHowell, NY

Hi Anderson,
I am happy to hear that some one care about Africa. I am from Cameroon and it has been seven year since I left, and I still have family there in Bafang and Yaounde. I Am looking forward to year from your News

I appreciate the HIV history review. I need to be reminded how this all started and reflect on where we’ve been. I think the general public has become more and more laisez-faire about this disease, other diseases, and potential diseases that Mr. Wolfe is uncovering. I know I see the disease everyday but, at the same time, I ignore it. Thank you for including this in your coverage–we need it.

The more convenient for us to travel around the world, the easier for a deadly disease to spread. Therefore one fatal mistake could lead to catastrpohe in many places far from the origin.

It is such a creative and courageous idea to go into the very place where HIV started. Without your report, I would never take notice of the researchers who are trying to prevent another potential pandemic.

Thank you very much for bringing their effort to light and I am really looking forward to watching and reading more about them.

Anderson,

I have never come across a more adventurous soul than you! I miss seeing you hosting 360 this week, so I really look forward to your next dispatch from overseas.

Safe travels,

Laurie

Interesting and unique reports and risky too. Be safe n my salute to Mr.Wolfe and all PIP2 team.

Anderson, Loved the slide show from the PIP2. I hope you will one day publish a book of the still shots. Pls. be careful of the animals and the rebels hiding in the woods. Remember the body fluids and skat are true viral borne carriers and monkeys throw crap…no pun intended and they aim for the eyes! You are definitely in rebel territory. You are all in my prayers… Bren in Atlanta from MSF (Doctors w/o Borders

Hi Anderson,
“Keep Africa beautiful and stay safe there!!!

Anderson,

I guess I am lagging way behind your seas of fans. I only learn that you’re in Cameroon today. In my part of the world I only get to see you on friday, thats the only day I’m not at work when you’re on. Time different sucks, I know. Stay safe and looking forward to seeing more of you and your informative report! God Bless!

hi Anderson….PIP is just yet another reason why i think CNN is the elite network for news, whether it be in our country or another hemisphere!!~…i applaud Nathan Wolfe and anyone who does such prodigious research which in turn paves the path for finding cures, avoiding another epidemic outbreak that could be devastating to us ALL, or to enable others to branch out on his work, educate, or possibly make a discovery that could change the WORLD!!~~…. your diligence is commendable for you all who put yourselves out there in a vulnerable situation to inform the rest of us on issues that are not prevalent in our everyday lives here…..and i say thank you very much!!~

i still don’t understand the purpose of wolfe’s research, what is the purpose, has he checked all other forests in Africa before coming to the conclusion that AIDS started in this particular forest?

Dear Andy,

Please stay safe and be careful about the food you eat and drinking water. My prayers are always with you. I pray for your safe return.

from the looks of things so far, so looks to be like another successful and exciting special. i love learning and just reading the blog has me all fascinated and longing for more. being that it’s tough work out there, do you have get a lot of shots before the trip for protection? and since you’re finding new viruses, how to you protect yourself against those?

Dear Anderson,

Please stay safe and be careful about the food you eat and drinking water. My prayers are always with you. I pray for your safe return.

Hi Anderson

I guess the other side of the coin is that there also maybe within these forests, plants and organisms that may provide cures in the future.

This must be a facinating journey to be undertaking.

It’s about time we know more of this impending issue. We only get bits and piece here and there, inciting temporary fears but forgotten in a week. This is such an important and extensive subject matter that deserves more exposure.
So it’s great that you are looking into this as one of the priority issues.
Thank you.
So, is this the price, one of many… we all have to pay in the name of ‘progress’ and to satisfy our ‘excessive society’?
Whatever we want to call it…cause and effect, check and balance…things are spiralling out of contol due to greed and over-consumption. It’s coming back full circle, and it’s not pretty.
Stay safe, all of you!

Dear Anderson, Please take care out there. Please don;t eat any
meat out there. Ihope you were vaccinated. Please come back
soon. I know you love your job. I worry about you.
Love,
Kashmira

Anderson:

good to see you back on the blog once more.

Hope you got some rest,if possible.

I wish they had been showing more of your reports on the program all this week,so I hope we get to see them when you get back.

I cannot wait to see PIP 2,all Jeff’s photos are amazing!

Any chance we can get some blog posts from Charlie?

Please,all of you,stay safe.

Take care of yourselves.

The photo journalism of AC in the jungles and bush country are very well done. Part two of Planet in Peril is prize winning the way this is being covered. The documentary that is scheduled to air in the fall is worth watching. I can understand why your fans are concerned about you. May God watch over you to be safe, sound and healthy. You are beginning to look like Tarzan, don’t you think? Anderson you should keep a journal each day of your experiences on this trip.

Anderson

Hi just another blogger from Canada checking in a day late any way,i’m a huge fan of your and I love the photos behind the scenes.
You look great and and stay safe I miss you on Ac 360 .

I look forward to more of your reporting from there soon!
Bye:Michelle D.
Ontario,Canada.

Thank you for the report.

I’m taking a health class and we had a heated debate about HIV started with humans. The public believes so many superstitions, rumours and urban legends about HIV and AIDS. Now, I’ll have some facts to back up my statements.

Be careful out there, AC.

The photo journalism of AC in the jungles and bush country are very well done. Part two of Planet in Peril is prize winning the way this is being covered. The documentary that is scheduled to air in the fall is worth watching. I can understand why your fans are concerned about you. May God watch over you to be safe, sound and healthy. You are beginning to look like Tarzan, don’t you think? Anderson you should keep a journal each day of your experiences on this trip. Have a safe trip home.

Minou,

Good point about viruses evolving. One of my friends did research on AIDS in the ’80’s and he explained that currently the AIDS virus is anaerobic, meaning it dies in an oxygenated environment (when exposed to air). One of the reasons it took so long for us to understand the virus is because initially the researchers who were investigating it were trying to culture it in a petri dish and it kept dying because it was exposed to oxygen.

If the virus evolves so that it can survive in air, we are all in big trouble because it will be “catchy” like the common cold.

Hi Anerson,
It looks like it is “out of Africa again.” It is interesting to me that in the very place where man began and stood upright also cometh the deadly diseases which cross~over to humans. Intriquing to the mind to say the least.
Since everyone has already told you to be careful and how much they appreciate your work for the planet in peril,I just want to reiterate “ditto” from me.
The pic Jeff took of you looks great! You’ve been pumping iron!
Remember if all else fails, catch up with Neil and Phil. They’ve got the booze!
In the meantime, AC/360 is not the same without you!
Now, don’t you feel loved?
Thanks for taking time to blog!
Your news fan,
Betty Ann