Plague of the Dead Read Online Free PDF

already infected numerous others before they developed symptoms, and so on. Now that Morningstar has dominance on most of the African continent, contamination should slow somewhat, as most if not all infected people are still on the continent, and the threat of hidden contamination is reduced significantly. So, to answer your original question-yes, we could and did predict the spread of a virus like Morningstar, but there is no real way to prevent such outbreaks from occurring.”
        “Could the CDC or USAMRIID have sent teams in to contain the disease in its early phases?” Julie asked.
        “We could, and we should have,” Anna said, folding her hands. “We didn’t, simply because the disease was too new and mysterious to accurately judge the threat it presented. If we had sent a team in without a full bank of knowledge, a team member could have become infected and brought the disease home with him or her. Now that we know how it’s transmitted, we can better deal with it.”
        “And how does Morningstar spread from host to host, Colonel?” Julie asked.
        “Well, it’s not airborne. Viruses like influenza tend to be airborne-that is, you can spread them by coughing or breathing on someone. We should thank God or luck or whatever we believe in for that. Morningstar is transmitted through bodily fluids. We have examined cadavers and found that there is a high concentration of virus in the saliva of carriers, as well as in seminal and vaginal fluids. Then, of course, there’s blood.”
        “So you’re saying a person could contract the disease through any contact with infected fluid?” Julie asked.
        “Not through any contact . Theoretically, you could put your hand in infected blood, and providing you have no cuts or breaks in your skin, you could wash it off and be fine. But most people who come into contact with contaminated material don’t take the threat seriously enough and either fail to sterilize their skin thoroughly or assume water will do the trick. Then they might rub their eyes, or even pick their nose, and contract the disease.”
        “One final question,” Julie said, pulling a fresh sheet of notes.
        “Okay,” replied Anna, leaning forward slightly.
        “Do you believe there is a significant risk of Morningstar outbreaks in the United States?”
        At this, Anna halted. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but held back. Her eyes flicked to the side and hovered there a moment before darting back to the camera.
        “No, Julie,” Anna said. Her voice was heavy and subdued. “I don’t think we have any reason to worry.”
        “Well, thanks for joining us, Colonel.”
        “My pleasure.”
        “That was Lieutenant Colonel Anna Demilio from the US Army’s Medical Research Division. After a word from our sponsors, we’ll return with more breaking news from the front lines of the war on Morningstar. This is Julie Ortiz. Thanks for watching Channel Thirteen news!”
        The cameraman held up a finger, signaling Julie to wait. She sat patiently, a smile on her face, until he dropped the finger.
        “…And we’re off the air!” he said, letting the camera sag on its base. He pulled the headset from his ear and grinned. “Nice broadcast, Julie!”
        But Julie Ortiz wasn’t listening. She glared up at the control booth over the studio floor.
        “What the hell was that bullshit, Jim?!” she demanded, standing up from behind her desk.
        “That bullshit was exactly what the people needed to hear, Julie,” said the station supervisor through the intercom.
        “And that last question-the one about outbreaks in the US-that doctor’s answer was so blatantly false I don’t know how I can find the guts to even call myself a journalist after airing it!”
        “That’s enough, Julie! We air what the Feds tell us to air! We’re in a crisis here! The last thing