In 1953, Watson and Crick showed the world what the future of humanity looked like.
In 1973, scientists began to change that future via genetic engineering.
In 2013, future started fighting back.
It started altruistically enough. Malaria continued to plague mankind. Plasmodium malarie. How could such a tiny thing cause so much devastation? Living in mosquitos and spread through their bites, malaria infects over 200 million and kills nearly a million annually.
Efforts to kill the mosquitos never fully succeeded. Insecticides working on one species would leave other species unphased. Resistance spread faster than mosquito free communities.
The world needed a change in tactics. Rather than kill the mosquito, kill the parasite. The idea was simple. The execution was anything but.
After several years and countless dead ends, a breakthrough occurred. Wolbachia, a relatively benign bacteria naturally infecting many insect species, was genetically engineered to successfully live and thrive in mosquitoes. Moreover, Wolbachia was shown to limit the spread of the malaria causing Plasmodium parasite. It seemed miraculous. A cure for malaria was conceivable.
The first real world trials started at a classified location in Australia. Wild mammals were the target. Plentiful. Widespread. Found in mosquito breeding areas. Susceptible to malaria.. Infect lab grown mosquitos with the genetically engineered strain of Wolbachia bacterium. Release the mosquitoes into the wild. If everything goes well, infected lab grown mosquitoes will feed on nearby mammals, who will in turn be infected with Wolbachia. Wild mosquitoes will feed on mammals, continuing the spread of malaria fighting Wolbachia. Wild mosquitoes will be caught and analyzed for the presence or absence of Wolbachia to determine transmissivity rates.
The first... anomaly... was found near Queensland. Known as downers in the industry, they are common enough. Many countries have laws regulating them. Cattle unable to walk to the slaughter house can’t be used for food or feed. They are to be disposed of. Sterilized. Analyzed for Mad Cow and a host of other diseases.
But we’re not talking about a downer or two. We’re talking about a whole herd. Two hundred twenty seven head of cattle unable to stand. Unable to feed. Unable to move out of their own defecation.
Other anomalies showed up. Rumors spread: At first within conspiracy circles but shortly after in media and coffee shops.
Those rumors were quelled on September 18, 2013. Emergency Broadcast Systems the world over chimed in unison. Outbreak!
The good news: a vaccine was available. The bad news: no mention of how to get it, how effective it was, or how many vaccines were available.
Panic set.
The Stoltzfus family of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania made plans. They would endure, no matter the cost.
On September 19, 2013, the Emergency Broadcast System was triggered again. Vaccines were available at the county health department. But there was a shortage. A critical shortage. Only three doses were available for all of Lebanon County, a county of 9 individuals.
By administrative fiat (dern politicians!), the doses were to be given only if the residents came to a majority agreement on whom to give them to.
What follows is an account of the residents of Lebanon County....
In 1973, scientists began to change that future via genetic engineering.
In 2013, future started fighting back.
It started altruistically enough. Malaria continued to plague mankind. Plasmodium malarie. How could such a tiny thing cause so much devastation? Living in mosquitos and spread through their bites, malaria infects over 200 million and kills nearly a million annually.
Efforts to kill the mosquitos never fully succeeded. Insecticides working on one species would leave other species unphased. Resistance spread faster than mosquito free communities.
The world needed a change in tactics. Rather than kill the mosquito, kill the parasite. The idea was simple. The execution was anything but.
After several years and countless dead ends, a breakthrough occurred. Wolbachia, a relatively benign bacteria naturally infecting many insect species, was genetically engineered to successfully live and thrive in mosquitoes. Moreover, Wolbachia was shown to limit the spread of the malaria causing Plasmodium parasite. It seemed miraculous. A cure for malaria was conceivable.
The first real world trials started at a classified location in Australia. Wild mammals were the target. Plentiful. Widespread. Found in mosquito breeding areas. Susceptible to malaria.. Infect lab grown mosquitos with the genetically engineered strain of Wolbachia bacterium. Release the mosquitoes into the wild. If everything goes well, infected lab grown mosquitoes will feed on nearby mammals, who will in turn be infected with Wolbachia. Wild mosquitoes will feed on mammals, continuing the spread of malaria fighting Wolbachia. Wild mosquitoes will be caught and analyzed for the presence or absence of Wolbachia to determine transmissivity rates.
The first... anomaly... was found near Queensland. Known as downers in the industry, they are common enough. Many countries have laws regulating them. Cattle unable to walk to the slaughter house can’t be used for food or feed. They are to be disposed of. Sterilized. Analyzed for Mad Cow and a host of other diseases.
But we’re not talking about a downer or two. We’re talking about a whole herd. Two hundred twenty seven head of cattle unable to stand. Unable to feed. Unable to move out of their own defecation.
Other anomalies showed up. Rumors spread: At first within conspiracy circles but shortly after in media and coffee shops.
Those rumors were quelled on September 18, 2013. Emergency Broadcast Systems the world over chimed in unison. Outbreak!
The good news: a vaccine was available. The bad news: no mention of how to get it, how effective it was, or how many vaccines were available.
Panic set.
The Stoltzfus family of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania made plans. They would endure, no matter the cost.
On September 19, 2013, the Emergency Broadcast System was triggered again. Vaccines were available at the county health department. But there was a shortage. A critical shortage. Only three doses were available for all of Lebanon County, a county of 9 individuals.
By administrative fiat (dern politicians!), the doses were to be given only if the residents came to a majority agreement on whom to give them to.
What follows is an account of the residents of Lebanon County....
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