NoviSARS

Novel Ultraviurulent Severe Accute Respirartory Syndrome Coronavirus 40-b, colloquially known as NoviSARS is an acute respiratory disease with origins in ancient coronaviruses from Earth. though most of its genetic family has essentially evolved into endemic diseases that have joined Rhinoviruses as causes of the 'Common Cold', NoviSARS remains dangerous and relatively deadly while retaining the virality of many other common respiratory diseases. It causes severe respiratory symptoms, malaise, high fevers, shortness of breath, pneumonia, and if pneumonia is not present a frequent and long lasting coughing. Unfortunately, these relatively mild symptoms (at least at early stages) ensure that those infected don't deviate significantly from their daily routines or seek out medical care, exacerbating infections. Frequently fevers and inability to breathe are the main causes of death of those infected with NoviSARS, and more severe strains of the virus are both highly infectious and highly lethal, to the point that even on mid-tech worlds, an outbreak of NoviSARS can result in casualty rates of over 50%. Most famously, an outbreak of a weaponized strain of the virus on the world of Estuam in the Catta Primae system resulted in the total quarantining and eventual orbital bombardment of the planet.

Game Stats

Nature: Droplet-borne, Natural viral disease (Can be weaponized), Difficulty: Very Difficult (12+)

NoviSARS is typically communicated through inhalation of infected droplets exhaled, vomited, or coughed out of the infected. The disease can be cured naturally, but best survival chances come through treatment at a medical facility of TL 9 or higher, where most symptoms can be treated without penalty.

Stage 1: After an incubation period of 2D days, the infected suffers from severe but recognizably flu-like symptoms. Reduce INT by 1, DEX by D3, and END by D6 while Stage 1 is underway. If any characteristic is reduced to zero from this, the infected suffers from fever related organ failures and dies within D3 days. If the infected passes a Difficult (10+) Endurance check, or is treated in a medical facility of TL 9 or higher the disease progresses no further and recovery takes place over D3 weeks.

Stage 2: If an untreated infected fails their Endurance check NoviSARS progresses to Stage 2 after 2D days. Symptoms are more extreme at this stage including severe pneumonia, hemorrhaging, and if a person is sufficiently weakened internal bleeding caused by severe coughing fits. At this stage, INT, DEX, and END losses from stage 1 become permanent, and an additional INT, DEX, and D3 END is lost per day. Stage 2 lasts D6 days. Any characteristics being reduced to 0 results in death in one day from fever, organ failure, internal bleeding, or another similar symptom. Symptoms can be mitigated if treated in a medical facility of TL 9 or higher but any characteristic loss from Stage 1 becomes permanent. If treated in a medical facility of TL 5-8 characteristic loss is reduced to 1 per day, with post-treatment loss being restorable.

Stage 3: If an infected person survives Stage 2, NoviSARS progresses to stage 3, which is a period of recovery from the main symptoms. Characteristic loss from Stage 2 is restored at a rate of 1 per day until fully recovered. Destructive symptoms cease, but persistent cough lasts as much as three months after progression. Without advanced medical treatment, damage from Stage 1 is permanent and characteristic loss won't be restored. If one can obtain treatment at a TL 13 or higher facility within a month of entering stage 3, characteristic loss from Stage 1 can be restored at a rate of 1 per day until recovery is complete or a month has elapsed after reaching Stage 3, with further loss permanent.

Type

Viral