Trojan Plague (eBook)

Chapter 7

Center for Disease Control

Atlanta, Georgia

June 12

“Thank you all for coming on such short notice. We would appreciate your cooperation, so please take your seats so we can get the program started. Again, please be seated. I’m Dr. Ted Johnson, head of Emerging Diseases here at the CDC, and I am pleased to welcome you back. Unfortunately, the circumstances that brought you here are extremely serious.

“Last time we were together, we were searching to find answers; now we have answers framing some very crucial questions. We will first go over some background information, and then I will turn the podium over to Dr. Kate Vensky of the USDA, followed by Dr. Jules LeClerc from the Pasteur Institute, and then Dr. Hans Vogel from TriStar Veterinary Biologics.

“You all received the CDC email alert last week with its general information. Be assured this health threat we are facing is a real and immediate danger to the nation and the world. Humans have dealt with the threat of rabies since probably the dawn of mankind, certainly since dogs were domesticated, and Dr. LeClerc will give us an overview on the virus from the Institute named after the man who found a way to beat a disease that terrorized the world. Dr. Vogel will then review the process that will, hopefully, develop an effective vaccination. Rarely does the CDC subcontract out new vaccination development, but in this case, only TriStar has the infrastructure in place to develop, test, and produce with the speed, quantity, and quality that will be necessary to neutralize this zoonotic threat.”

Dr. Johnson stopped and cleared his throat, then drank from a glass of water that sat on the podium.

He continued, “So. First we will review what has happened so far. The most publicized event was the wolf in the Mall of America. The biggest problem we are facing is that the virus isolated from these attacks is the result of an unknown strain of rabies, which looks to be spread conventionally through saliva and bites but also is infective when airborne. It appears to have high morbidity and a probable 100 percent mortality. Thirty-seven people from that single event are clinical now, undergoing coma therapy, and none at this point are expected to survive. As you understand, it is a horrible way to die.

“I know most of you saw the social media–posted cellphone videos that were also broadcast after the attack, but the actual security camera footage was not made public. We have put together an unedited, real-time version for you to watch.”

The lights in the large, modern auditorium dimmed softly, and the multiple Jumbo E, or Exceptional High Def, computer screens morphed from the CDC logo to footage of the wolf staggering into the mall entrance. The events leading to the wolf being shot unfolded quickly. The room buzzed with comments as the screens reverted back to the logo and the lights came up.

“Pretty graphic; I hope that doesn’t give any of you nightmares,” Dr. Johnson said. “Again, that was the total real-time video. In less than three minutes, our world as we know it was changed forever.

“The dead wolf was shipped here immediately by the Minnesota Public Health Service after they had a negative dFA test, so we had her on the table within eighteen hours of the attack. We repeated the initial standard rabies protocol, which was a true negative, and completed a comprehensive necropsy including radiography, tissue cultures, and advance virology testing using immunology, histopath, and electron microscopy. We suspected rabies and confirmed a rhabditiform virus that was unique in its appearance. Ninety-five percent is considered classic, and 5 percent is novel. Here is an example of the classic bullet shape of a rhabditiform, and here is what looks like a rocket ship in the variant test virus. It is that small percentage that confused the standard dFA test reaction.

“The wolf was female, had not birthed a litter last year or was pregnant this year. She was nine years old, normal in all ways for her age, with osteoarthritis, broken and worn teeth, normal blood chemistries, and blood counts. Unlike most in the Minnesota wolf population, she was negative for heartworm and all the usual tick-borne diseases. One strange thing, she had been microchipped by the University of Montana Wildlife Club as a two-week old pup in a population survey done to determine how far they move within their range. This one must have hitched a ride east, as she was approximately one thousand miles as the crow flies from her birth den when she died. No one I’ve talked to can explain that.”

He paused and took another sip of water.

“Now we are going to have Dr. Vensky go over the general field strategy. Once we refine a consensus approach in our smaller work groups, this will become your protocol to bring to all healthcare workers in your regions. I’m sorry, but you are going to be fairly busy for a month or so bringing everyone under your supervision up to speed. You will be the authority, the direct line to Atlanta for your region. All press releases and critical information will come directly through us to you. You are not authorized to talk to any news outlets independently. You are only to be the conduit from us to the local public health and general healthcare employees. We don’t want mass hysteria or a bunch of animals being euthanized for no reason. Nothing scares people like a non-treatable, 100 percent lethal disease.

“On that happy note, I’m going to turn this over to Kate.” Dr. Johnson graciously gave her the floor.

Kate came up to the stage dressed in gray slacks and a conservative white blouse. She was radiant, smiling and obviously enjoying taking on another major mystery. She was a problem solver—this was what she was born to do.

“Good morning, everyone. I’m pleased so many of you could be here on such short notice. Let’s hope we can expedite a solution that does not have us on the menu for some South American army ants.”

Laughter and murmurs rose from the crowd as they remembered Kate’s and Tom’s, along with Joseph Blackfeather’s, close encounter with the tiny, hungry foragers, courtesy of the Nazi Berhetzel.

“Unfortunately, this new virus will keep all of us from any kind of normal life until we defeat it. There are a lot of questions to answer, like: Where did it come from? Is it natural or, perhaps, the unintentional result of man’s constant meddling with nature? We may never know, but here are the numbers on potential animal vectors that live in close association with humans.

“There are about seventy-five million canines and ninety million felines living in approximately 40 percent of American households. Feral cat populations number in the tens of millions. Wild animals vectors that live in close proximity to population centers include raccoon, skunk, possum, fox, coyote, and bat. The small mammals that were generally excluded from being rabies carriers—because they would not survive the bite attack of a vector—now must be included as potential threats because this disease may be airborne or persist in the environment. So, countless millions of mice, chipmunks, groundhogs, gophers, and squirrels could bring the disease to your backyard.

“Currently, the only region where it is taking hold is Northern Virginia and Maryland. There, the raccoon population seems highly susceptible, and there is an effort to trap and destroy large numbers of the animals. About two hundred nuisance-control trappers are setting box traps in a hundred-mile radius of DC, euthanizing their catch and submitting the animals for testing. They are being made to wear biohazard suits and place the dead raccoons and the traps in trailered Dumpsters filled with sealed ice packs, which are shipped overnight to Atlanta. In the last seven days, the CDC has processed over two thousand animals, of which 7 carried traditional rabies and 113 tested positive for the new strain. That is a huge number of infected animals when you take into account that in the Northern Virginia–Washington-Baltimore region there is estimated one raccoon for every twenty-five people.

“I was asked the question about placing poisons out, but that simply is not safe with so many pets and humans in densely populated centers. Plus, it would be inhumane, so if the virus really persists in the environment for any length of time, it would not solve the problem anyway.

“Therefore, our initial plan is isolate, vaccinate, and eliminate, the details of which will be developed in our small groups. Brainstorm ideas with your colleagues this afternoon, then submit your plans. We are placing no time limit on you. You can work all night if you need. We will feed you and provide whatever help you require.”

Kate looked around the room. “Let’s break for twenty minutes. I see Dr. LeClerc has just arrived from Paris, so when we reconvene we will get some history on rabies from Jules. Be back in your seats at ten.”

There was scattered applause, then the room quickly emptied as the assembly of scientists split into coffee seekers and restroom rushers. Several sat in their seats talking on their cellphones while Brad, Tom, and Kate gravitated to Jules.

“Bonjour, mes amies!” he greeted.

“Bonjour, Jules!” they announced in near unison.

Kate was awarded a true friendship hug and kisses on both cheeks; Tom and Brad, firm, warm handshakes.

This was the first time the four had reunited since Kate and Tom’s wedding at the home of another friend, Jean DuBois, in his Paris courtyard garden two summers...