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.

[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.

[naturaltwohands]

All right. I will be there shortly.

[And indeed, Drizzt is there shortly, peering into the clinic.]

Hello?

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Tachibana looks up from his work with a blink before giving Drizzt a warm smile. The clinic itself is small and cozy, even if the tank of water in front of the desk was a little out of place. Considering Tachibana's in mermaid form, however, it was a bit necessary. He lets go of the anchor that was taking the place of the desk chair, floating over to the side of the tank closest to the door.]]

Found it easily enough?

[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.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Not quite. There are different types that will either introduce a inactive or a live version of the bacteria or virus, or a live version that's been weakened, or ones that will give an antigen, but the decision of which version to develop often comes from the type and severity of the disease being targeted, rather than if it comes from a virus or bacteria.

[[there's a bit of a pause at that 2nd part. Now she has *him* curious... ]]

X-pressure?

[awitchdidit]

It's a virus of worldwide importance in the universe that contains Heartbeat Academy. It has effects that I don't think can be described as anything but magic, but is well-researched as a contagious pathogen...or perhaps symbiote is a better word.

Its symptoms vary, but are mostly harmless outside of some social embarrassment. What it also does is grant people the ability to express themselves emotionally though magic effects - skills collectively called S. Tech, or Social Techniques.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Something visible? Or more like a form of telepathy?

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt relaxes a bit at the warm smile, nodding and walking into the clinic with more confidence now.]

Easily enough, yes.

CW: Needles / Doctor's office

[triggerhappytraitor]

Good. Hopefully it will be for others as well. [[He's pulling over a small tray now, one with a two plastic wrapped packages marked "sterile", some alcohol pads and gauze. ]]

Ever have blood drawn before?

CW: Drizzt is regretting going to the doctor's office.

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt looks confused, wondering what sort of spell needs such components. Except one of them looks like bandages? Is that for after??]

I have not, no. I do not even know what that means. The words do not make sense together. Unless--

[Drawn as in pulled. From his body? Drizzt looks kind of worried.]

... You take blood from me?

CW: Insert an inappropriate and inapplicable joke about playing doctor here

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana nodded. "A small amount," he assured, holding up the small vacuum tube to demonstrate. "Just enough to run the test to see if you have the infection or not."

CW: Drizzt is REALLY regretting going to the doctor's office.

[naturaltwohands]

Drizzt's eyes fall onto the vacuum tube before he slowly looks back to Tachibana's face. "How does my blood get from my veins into there?"

CW: Somehow the succession of subject lines makes it worse. But it's just needles.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana this time held up the sealed and sterilized needle and tubing, pointing to where the vacuum tube would be placed. "With this," he explained. "The needle is small, so there's barely any discomfort to it," he assured. "Since the tube is at the end of the line, there's no real pressure from it."

CW: JUST NEEDLES, Drizzt says.

[naturaltwohands]

Drizzt takes several steps back at that, eying the thing uneasily. "With a needle? How?"