Kansas plays role in new medical miniseries ‘The Hot Zone’

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A new television series focusing on how the U.S. Army dealt with the first outbreak of one of the most contagious and deadliest viruses on its soil features several University of Kansas and Kansas State University connections.

The six-part National Geographic miniseries “The Hot Zone” dramatizes the real-life events of the first Ebola virus outbreak — the Reston virus, one of six types of Ebola strains — in America in 1989. Nancy and Jerry Jaax, who were serving in the Army as veterinarians at the time, were thrust into the action as Nancy worked to learn about the virus contain the outbreak.

Jerry Jaax, who earned his bachelor’s degree at KU before attending K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said the series had several connections to the university, but his wife Nancy Jaax, who is portrayed as the main character of the series, attended K-State for both her undergraduate and veterinary studies.

“She’s a K-Stater through and through,” Jerry Jaax said, speaking to the Lawrence Journal-World on behalf of the couple.

Along with Jerry’s connection, KU alumna Kelly Souders served as executive producer, writer and showrunner for the show. Souders has made a career in television production, writing and producing the Superman-based show “Smallville,” the Stephen King series “Under the Dome,” and several others.

Souders did not respond to the Journal-World’s requests for comment.

For full measure, the production also used the help of the Jaaxes nephew Michael Smit, who is an infectious disease doctor based in Los Angeles, Jerry Jaax said. Smit earned his medical degree from KU’s medical school in Kansas City, Kansas.

The television series is based on the 1994 New York Times best-selling book with the same title by Richard Preston. The Jaaxes, who were prominently featured in the book, will be portrayed in the show by Julianna Margulies and Noah Emmerich.

Margulies may be best known for her roles in television shows “ER” and “The Good Wife,” while Emmerich has appeared in several supporting roles, such as the television series “The Americans” and the movie “The Truman Show.”

When asked about the series during a panel discussion at K-State earlier this month, Nancy Jaax called seeing Margulies portraying her as “surreal.”

“You see this poster with this person in uniform with my name on it and it’s a little crazy but a lot of fun,” she said.

Jerry Jaax told the Journal-World he thought it was flattering Emmerich was portraying him and he found Margulies’ portrayal of his wife to be very accurate.

“She really caught (Nancy’s) character and the way she operates,” Jerry Jaax said. “When Nancy was in the service she was a no-nonsense, ‘let’s get it done’ scientist . … I think the characterization they got of her is good.”

The Jaaxes met with Souders prior to the production of the series to discuss technical information related to the story. The Jaaxes were also invited to attend premiere events with Souders and the other producers, which Jerry said was an indication that the writers thought highly of the Jaaxes and were trying to represent them well.

“She’s really nice and she was very impressive,” Jerry Jaax said of the experience working with Souders.