An unknown simian virus recently killed off nearly half the human population of a remote jungle town. Because the disease spread at an alarming rate—victims usually exhibited signs within 8 hours of exposure, and many died within 36 hours—the simian virus, if an outbreak occurs again, is likely to cause more deaths than has any other previous virus.
Which of the following pieces of information most effectively calls into question the validity of the conclusion?
(A) The Zairean strain of the Ebola virus, known as Zaire ebolavirus, has a mortality rate of nearly 75%.
(B)The village in which the outbreak of the unknown simian virus occurred is located in a country that has had several viral outbreaks in the last two decades.
(C)Viruses that have very little time to incubate before destroying their hosts tend not to lead to widespread epidemics, because quarantines are put in place before the disease can spread.
(D)The town in which the outbreak occurred had only fifty people, of whom twenty-four died.
(E)Viruses tend to be most destructive in densely populated areas, oftentimes spreading amongst thousands of people before any quarantine can be put in place.
I am confused about (A).Because Ebola virus has a higher mortality than the simian virus, if Ebola outbreaks in this town, then 75% of the population will die! More than 50% caused by the simian virus.So I think A also weakens this argument.
I don't think (A） is wrong just because the 75% of mortality doesn't claims more deaths than the unknown simian virus.
Help please!
Which of the following pieces of information most effectively calls into question the validity of the conclusion?
(A) The Zairean strain of the Ebola virus, known as Zaire ebolavirus, has a mortality rate of nearly 75%.
(B)The village in which the outbreak of the unknown simian virus occurred is located in a country that has had several viral outbreaks in the last two decades.
(C)Viruses that have very little time to incubate before destroying their hosts tend not to lead to widespread epidemics, because quarantines are put in place before the disease can spread.
(D)The town in which the outbreak occurred had only fifty people, of whom twenty-four died.
(E)Viruses tend to be most destructive in densely populated areas, oftentimes spreading amongst thousands of people before any quarantine can be put in place.
I am confused about (A).Because Ebola virus has a higher mortality than the simian virus, if Ebola outbreaks in this town, then 75% of the population will die! More than 50% caused by the simian virus.So I think A also weakens this argument.
I don't think (A） is wrong just because the 75% of mortality doesn't claims more deaths than the unknown simian virus.
Help please!
