The Cobra Event, written by Richard Preston is the story of a secret counter-terror operation involving the use of biological weapons. This dramatic, heart-stopping account of a real threat begins with Kate Morgan, an unsuspecting teenager, falls seriously ill. In the middle of class she convulses into seizures. In a gut wrenching manner, she dies in a self-cannibalistic manner. Her teacher tries to help but she dies before any paramedics arrive.

     Dr. Austen, from the Center for Disease Control, does the autopsy of the girl. Many unusual and startling facts were discovered in the autopsy, but the exact cause of death was still unknown. Within a few days, a homeless man and the teacher who had attempted to save Kate's life was both found dead with similar autopsy results. The autopsy revealed that the brain tissues of all three of the bodies had disintegrated into mucus like substance. Within a week, a member of the forensic pathologist unit who witnessed the autopsy of Kate Moran also died in a self-cannibalistic manner.

     Soon, the New York Police department alarms the United States Government. The President is notified and the life of every American living in America is suddenly thrown in jeopardy. Only one person in New York City is safe.

     This 432 page thriller contains a highly dramatic account of a possible dangerous game of biological warfare. In The New York Times, an article was quoted saying that "Mr. Clinton … so alarmed by ... THE COBRA EVENT, which portays a lone terrorist attack on New York City with a genetically engineered virus- that he instructed intelligence experts to evaluate its credibility."