Magdalene Grace Garcia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
talesuntold) wrote2015-10-08 01:15 am
talesuntold) wrote2015-10-08 01:15 am
World/Background Info
The Kellis-Amberlee virus is a filovirus that resulted from the combination of two manmade helper viruses in 2014. Marburg-Amberlee was a filovirus that attacked cancerous cells. The Kellis flu was a rhinovirus intended to cure the common cold. It was released before it was anywhere near ready for human testing in a raid conducted on Alexander Kellis' laboratory following an irresponsibly researched article. The article claimed he would attempt to keep the cure and sell it only to the highest bidders.
That was nonsense, of course, since it was as contagious as any other rhinovirus. It was designed to be. Both of these helper viruses worked exactly as intended, with one side effect. That's right, the cures for cancer and the common cold are what caused the zombie uprising.
Every single mammal on Earth is infected with the dormant form of the virus. Nothing and no one under 40 pounds can undergo viral amplification and become a zombie. When someone undergoes amplification (due to exposure to the live virus rather than simply reanimating after death; this can happen via bodily fluids, not just bites), the first signs are dry mouth and throat, enlarged pupils, impaired motor skills and reflexes, gradual loss of cognitive functioning...
Life has changed a lot since then. Bits of countries, sometimes entire states or countries themselves, have been ceded to the zombie hordes. For the most part, though, the foundations of society stayed the same.
America still has presidential elections, for instance. They're also a capitalist country. The CDC is still operating, and is now the most powerful organization in the United States. They and the WHO are among the most powerful in the world.
What's changed is the way people live their daily lives. People are afraid. They're much more cautious. They're more likely to be homebound and isolated. They tend to avoid physical contact with strangers. Some places for huge gatherings still exist, but the majority of them take extensive security measures outside and station guards inside. Most people have licenses to carry and a gun in the house. Travel is much more restricted, or at least much more heavily monitored. All public buildings and the majority of private homes include blood test units, and most add retinal scans. Doors won't let you in unless you test clean, and if you don't, often guards aren't needed to take you out. Some buildings have security systems capable of lethal action.
Cities are considered safer, despite the higher population density. Rural areas are by and large considered unsafe. No one eats mammals; the whole world has become a strictly fish and poultry or vegetarian society. (Remember, cows are over 40 pounds, so when they die, the virus in their bodies immediately amplifies. Most remaining cattle herds are used to feed the undead held in research facilities.)
That was nonsense, of course, since it was as contagious as any other rhinovirus. It was designed to be. Both of these helper viruses worked exactly as intended, with one side effect. That's right, the cures for cancer and the common cold are what caused the zombie uprising.
Every single mammal on Earth is infected with the dormant form of the virus. Nothing and no one under 40 pounds can undergo viral amplification and become a zombie. When someone undergoes amplification (due to exposure to the live virus rather than simply reanimating after death; this can happen via bodily fluids, not just bites), the first signs are dry mouth and throat, enlarged pupils, impaired motor skills and reflexes, gradual loss of cognitive functioning...
Life has changed a lot since then. Bits of countries, sometimes entire states or countries themselves, have been ceded to the zombie hordes. For the most part, though, the foundations of society stayed the same.
America still has presidential elections, for instance. They're also a capitalist country. The CDC is still operating, and is now the most powerful organization in the United States. They and the WHO are among the most powerful in the world.
What's changed is the way people live their daily lives. People are afraid. They're much more cautious. They're more likely to be homebound and isolated. They tend to avoid physical contact with strangers. Some places for huge gatherings still exist, but the majority of them take extensive security measures outside and station guards inside. Most people have licenses to carry and a gun in the house. Travel is much more restricted, or at least much more heavily monitored. All public buildings and the majority of private homes include blood test units, and most add retinal scans. Doors won't let you in unless you test clean, and if you don't, often guards aren't needed to take you out. Some buildings have security systems capable of lethal action.
Cities are considered safer, despite the higher population density. Rural areas are by and large considered unsafe. No one eats mammals; the whole world has become a strictly fish and poultry or vegetarian society. (Remember, cows are over 40 pounds, so when they die, the virus in their bodies immediately amplifies. Most remaining cattle herds are used to feed the undead held in research facilities.)