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A filmmaker documents his own subtropical parasitic disease...
Twenty years ago, I was in Ecuador documenting a U.S. scientific team's fight against Chagas disease. One of the crew from the C.D.C. had a small camera with the ability to record microscopic image video. Fascinated with its capabilities, I borrowed it. While testing it in the jungle, I was stung by an unknown insect. I quickly developed an intense fever, oozing pustules, blurred vision, and nausea. I documented the first day’s symptoms, hoping things were temporary, but soon woke up in the ICU being prepped for abdominal surgery. The second day of my parasitic infection was documented with recordings from a microscope examining my blood and the camera probe used during surgery. The total extent of the footage was assembled in this experimental documentary.
