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Coronavirus

In 2002, the SARS outbreak in southern China infected more than 8000 people in 37 countries, leaving little less than 800 people for dead when it was finally declared to be contained. The strain was sourced in civets, raccoon dogs, domestic cats and dogs, and bats, any of these the potential source of first cross-species transmission to humans. It was later concluded that the likely natural reservoir of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) lies in bats.


The SARS outbreak was virulent, it could spread relatively easily through human contact, among other possible vectors. Luckily enough, 90% of the infected people survived, though many developped related health problems and depression later on.


In 2012, the MERS outbreak in Saudi Arabia infected more than 1300 people in 26 countries, leaving over 500 people for dead when it was finally declared to be contained. The strain was sourced in camelids and bats, any of these the potential source of first cross-species transmission to humans. It was later concluded that the likely natural reservoir of MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) also lies in bats.


The MERS outbreak was not as virulent as the SARS outbreak, the main reason being that it was not so easily transmitted between humans, outside of specific clusters like hospitals where prolonged proximity and bodily fluids made it more likely. Also, MERS targets very specific cells in the lungs, making it less likely to take hold if the immune system is not already weakened somehow. Many people were found to have the MERS-CoV antibodies in their blood, but did not display any of the related symptoms.


As reassuring as this could be, the MERS outbreak was perhaps, in fact, more disturbing than the SARS outbreak: managing to travel and infect people in several countries despite being hardly transmitted outside of specific clusters, it also reached 66% of SARS death toll infecting only 20% as much people.


MERS-CoV is distinct of SARS-CoV in lineage. It would be hard, in fact, to compare MERS with other coronaviruses right now, as its considered a new disease, which lineage is only a recent addition to phylogeny. However, being of the same Betacoronavirus genus, they still share similar traits. Numerous multipurpose proteins were found in MERS-CoV, suggesting its characterestics could shift widely.


Some of the other coronaviruses in the SARS lineage, where comparisons are possible, are commonly called Human coronaviruses (HCoVs), thus are known endemic in humans, especially those accountable for about 25% of the common cold cases occuring each year in many countries.


Outside the severity of their symptoms, as all HCoVs more or less share the same minor common cold symptoms, the obvious difference between HCoVs and SARS or MERS is that HCoVs are not zoonotic, but strictly human diseases. HCoVs natural reservoir is us.


Research and studies on both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV are still being conducted today. No cure has been found, as for most viruses including the common cold rhinoviruses and coronaviruses.

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Today, a new strain of coronavirus emerges in Egypt.


It will be found later on that the first human subjects infected with the virus developped MERS-CoV alike antibodies. Presence of other unknown antibodies will be noted as well. By then. reminescences of SARS and MERS syndromes, reinforced by the earlier diagnosis of the new coronavirus, will already have given it a temporary name: SAME-CoV.


Further studies of its RNA sequence, and better knowledge of coronaviruses, WOULD show that it is distinct of any other known lineage, and has the potential to become a lot, lot worse than both SARS and MERS epidemics put together...


WHO and CDC are still on their toes from the MERS outbreak in South Korea. Western countries are more than readily armed and indirectly medicated against such invasions. And under its initial, MERS-CoV alike identity, your virus most potent traits lie dormant...


Dare you try to unleash it?

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NOTE : Keep in mind that, while I may have reused a lot of the traits you're used to see by name, their definition and effects will probably differ a bit. Have a careful look.

I created this plague to be true. The truest I could make it, while not being a specialist in infectious diseases, while working with the SC limitations and sometimes weird results, and while wanting to make it a bit more fun than a mere realistically straightforward progression. Of course, I cheated a bit in regards to the virus specific abilities, it's pretty much fiction based on a couple of basically true notions.


If you're a little bit like me, what first got you into this game might be a modest to advanced medical interest, and for my first plague I decided to go deep into it.


At Mega Brutal difficulty, having full scores won't be so easy, even when you'll have solved the little puzzle at its core. With the right genes and a bit of luck, there are two different approach that I tested to complete it with full scores.