Red-Plague/Roptahvlshegh’s-Illness

Also known as Red-Eye, Roptahvlshegh's-Illness [named after a man known as "Roptahvlshegh", said to have existed in some other dimension] is a dangerous viral contagion that causes some rather unpleasant effects to those infected by it. Said to have been brought over to Heimland by the Old Folk from some other dimension in 2009 DE, this deadly sickness has plagued the races of Heimland for centuries. Those infected by the sickness are normally killed, with their bodies being burnt or dumped into a nearby acidic river, which will destroy the cadaver permanently. The sickness can be identified by the infected developing blood-red irises exactly two days after infection, hence the term "Red-Eye".
The common people are the most affected by Red-Eye, since it is hereditary.

Transmission & Vectors

The sickness spreads through the air, blood, sweat, wind, physical contact and through food. It also passes through livestock, plants and rivers and affects water at rapid rates.

Causes

The cause of the sickness is unknown, although it was most likely man-made. Some call this superflu a curse from the gods.

Symptoms

The virus manifests in multiple symptoms over a period of a few weeks after the infected develops red irises: first pustules grow all over the body, then a yellowing of the whites of the eyes, then an eroding of the vessel-walls of the circulatory-system causing internal bleeding, then severe dementia, then fatally degenerative cognitive-ability as a result of encephalopathic tumors, then purple blemishes that bleed on contact, then severe coughing fits, then choking due to the congealing of mucus in the lungs and nasal-passage, then swelling of the tongue, then development of greenish-purple rashes between the toes and nostrils, then an extreme photosensitivity and aversion to all UV-light, then hysterical blindness near mirrors, then an overdevelopment of front-teeth causing long rabbit-like fangs and finally loss of memory backwards at the rate of a day’s worth of memories per week.

Treatment

So far, there have been no cures on Heimland capable of suppressing the sickness. The infected are burnt to prevent contamination.

Prognosis

The superflu is deadly, but for unknown reasons is non-lethal. Those with the sickness wouldn’t die from it, instead living the rest of their lives in pain and infecting those around them.

Sequela

Those with the sickness normally go insane due to the unbearable pain of the illness, and will cause discord in their society until being put down by Peacekeepers.

Affected Groups

All ethnicities of Heimland, except machines and cyborgs.

Hosts & Carriers

All flora and fauna of Heimland are vulnerable to the sickness.

Prevention

For prevention, areas with infection are quarantined by Peacekeepers. Fences are built around infected towns, and lakes with the infection are sealed-off from the other reservoirs.

Epidemiology

The condition normally affects the young and healthy, such as children and youths, before spreading onto adults and elders.

History

The first recorded case was in 2009 DE, about 2009 years before the Old Folk vanished. The sickness continued even after the Folk disappeared.

Cultural Reception

People with the infection are immediately killed, but those that are spared are forced to wear thick cloth covering their eyes, noses, ears, mouths and every part of skin on their body. These clothed infected are referred to as "Ghosties" and must carry a bell around, which they will ring to alert non-infected of their presence. It is a painful existence, and most infected will prefer death instead.

Type

Viral

Origin

Engineered

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired & Congenital

Rarity

Common

Affected Species

• Races of Heimland: Common People/Commoners