A far too formal presentation to say "We have a cure"

[triggerhappytraitor]

As many of you may be aware, Lyall and I have been working on analyzing the Stricken disease to find a cure and possible way of vaccination against it. Thanks to the cooperation of many and much time and effort, we have managed to isolate it and can officially report on our findings.

The Stricken disease is a form of bacterial infection, likely transmitted through biologic contamination -- that is to say through the shedding of dead cells, saliva and other bodily fluids. Samples have responded to treatments of two types of antibiotics, penicillin and doxycycline, and should be able to be overcome in the body with administration of a proper course of those drugs.

Work on a vaccine to prevent the infection from being able to gain hold in the body has begun, as has production of a large quantities of the antibiotics in both pill and liquid form.

Anyone who has shown any sign of infection or believes they have been exposed to it should report to Liminal Space where a clinic has been set up to administer the antibiotics. Anyone who has concern over possible allergic reaction or a DNA structure that may be incompatible to standard human medications should plan on spending a bit more time to have a blood sample drawn and tested to insure there will be no harmful reactions.

Thank you.

[[Clinic and "traveling sawbones" log]]

Comments

[awitchdidit]

So it was a physical disease after all, even if a magical song is affecting it. Interesting. Very interesting...

Congratulations on discovering this, by the way. It should be very helpful to the locals in the long-term, given that they fled from a tyrant who infected people deliberately.

[triggerhappytraitor]

A bit of an insidious combination, using one to augment the other. Magic often is seen as being at odds with science and the natural world, so someone looking at this from a pure magic or pure science point of view would tend to discount the other half of it.

Hopefully we'll be able to follow through enough so that they won't have to deal with that fear again.

[[If there's a note of almost soft pride to that statement, well... He's just happy they were able to solve this. And hopeful that in the end, they will have made a difference.]]

[awitchdidit]

Anyone who discounted either explanation after what we've seen in Liminal Space would have to be some kind of moron, but there are people like that...

I think we're on the route to a good ending here. We just have to deal with the Deepsinger to finish this.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Yeah.

I don't know if we'll have the vaccine ready before that fight, but at least we know how to limit the damage if anyone does get infected during it.

[awitchdidit]

I didn't know you could vaccinate for bacteria...then again, I predate the Black Plague, so what do I know about medicine?

/wikipedia crash course

[triggerhappytraitor]

Likely something altogether different than I do. [[it's said with good nature and without judgement.]]

The process for vaccinating against a disease caused by a bacterium and a virus are very similar. Both are designed to stimulate the immune system against a specific pathogen. How the pathogen entered the body is less of a concern than making sure the immune system is already primed to dispose of it.

[awitchdidit]

I see. That's...antibodies for viruses and essentially 'training' the white blood cells for bacteria, then?

[She's read a biology textbook. Although she paid more attention to the anatomy sections.]

I admit, this kind of piques my curiosity. There's at least one magical disease already running around the Traveler population, and if there's any others out there, they might not have the same benign symptoms as X-PRESSURE.

[naturaltwohands]

... Once we are no longer on a Jaunt, I may ask you what all of those words mean. But if I understand the general form of it--we can fix it? This is curable?

[Drizzt pauses for a moment.]

I have felt a little off. Should I come to the clinic?

[triggerhappytraitor]

It is, yeah.

And you should. With the enhanced communicability of--

[[a pause]]

With how the Deepsong has been making it easier for people to contract this illness, it's very likely anyone who doesn't feel well has it. I can do a quick test to check for it, now that we know what it looks like.

[naturaltwohands]

[Oh joy.]

I will be there shortly, then.

... If I can do so without making others sick. Is there a way?

[triggerhappytraitor]

You won't be making anyone else sick, don't worry. This sort of disease is slow to spread under normal conditions, it's only the Deepsong that's making it spread so swiftly.

Getting treatment is more important than worrying about spreading any contamination.

[naturaltwohands]

That is reassuring to know--now where exactly in Liminal Space is the clinic?

[triggerhappytraitor]

Not far from the center pool. I made sure to mark the door so it would be easy to spot.

[tobegood]

How do you know if you've been exposed? I've been feeling a little sick...

[triggerhappytraitor]

I can check for signs of the infection in a blood sample.

[tobegood]

A... a blood sample?

[Imriel's thoughts are wary and a little afraid.]

Wh-what does that mean? How does it work?

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[A small awkward pause, and when he responce, there's a much more gentle note to his mental voice.]]

It's a pretty painless procedure to have done, where a very small needle is used to extract some blood for testing. I have equipment that allows me to analyze that sample to see if there's any indication of the disease.

I can show you everything that's involved beforehand, if you'd like, if it's something you're unfamiliar with.

[tobegood]

...I've never heard of it before. But lots of people are from worlds that are further ahead than mine. [There's a pause before he continues.] Okay. I'll do it, if you can explain everything you're doing.

I don't have portals, though, so I can't get there by myself.

[triggerhappytraitor]

I can. You can ask any question that comes to mind as well.

Where are you at the moment? I can open a portal for you.

[dino_zarf]

Taikong suoyou de xingqiu saijin wo de pigu! Vaccinations.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[a pause. Wasn't.... this sort of thing normally translated? ]]

...Pardon?

[dino_zarf]

I just realized... most of the worlds we visited since she was born...

Rose isn't vaccinated against anything.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Another pause. This one is far more of understanding and concern, however]]

How old is she?

[dino_zarf]

Nine and a half months.

Her overlay got some of her shots in Newport, but I don't know if that even counts.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Not likely...

Once the vaccine is finished for Stricken, I can see what I can do to recreate what she would need.