MIR-20 Outbreak

The **MIR-20 Outbreak** was a disease outbreak in which a Titan-borne disease known as MIR-20 (also known as the Wendigo Strain) was spread amongst many different Titans. This event proved to be one of the hardest Monarch has dealt with, as the virus in question being one that was both dangerous and unprecedented. This outbreak cost the lives of many Titans and people alike, though the virus only affected the Titans.

## MIR-20 Outbreak

### Location(s)

Quebec, Canada; Tiksi, Russia; Cranberry Twp, Pennsylvania; Hollow Earth under Seychelles Islands; Diego Garcia; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Bolivia; Sima Humboldt, Venezuela;

### Creatures Involved

Wendigo (Bane of Quebec and Wendy), Tambanokano, 'Rattler' Mehen, 'Yellowback' Yacumama, Sasnalkahi, Cusith, Sang Buaya, Akampeshimpeshi, Hahnunah, Row, Kraken, MUTO 3-19, Apshait, Tizheruk, Anchanchu, Achlis, and Orthrus

### Casualties

Bane of Quebec, Akampeshimpeshi, Sasnalkahi, Sang Buaya, and Orthrus

## The Virus

The name MIR-20 stand for 'Magnified Intensity Rabies', and just as the name describes, is a variant of the rabies virus, with a severity scale reaching Titan infection, and unlike normal rabies (which is usually limited to mammals), this virus affects many other Titans, usually other vertebrates such as reptiles. MIR-20's origin is unknown, but it seems to have come from the Hollow Earth in some way or another. Patient zero of the outbreak was the Titanus Wendigo individual known as the Bane of Quebec, who was known for its aggressive behavior.

The virus seemed to be controlled by (or at least connected to) some microscopic parasites that can induce various changes in the brain, among them aggression. These parasites seem to breed periodically, as eggs are found laid in occupied brains. Like rabies, other symptoms include fear of light and fear of water, though the latter isn't observed in certain infected organisms. Depending on the length of infection, the host's body appearance and mental health deteriorate drastically, with notable changes including savage aggression (even by rabies standards) and pupiless eyes (and it is worth noting that despite the virus' nature, it is not considered a 'zombie virus' as it doesn't kill its host and seems to only be an intensified version of rabies, which itself isn't a zombie virus). In advanced stages of infection, it seems that the virus overrides the host's pain receptors in order to continue its goal of passing on the virus, which explains why one of the Titans infected didn't react to an injury that would've seriously hurt it. The virus seems only capable of spreading through the bloodstream, and a bite that easily punctures flesh and exposes blood is an excellent gateway for the virus to enter a host.

## Timeline

* In 2019, the aggressive Titan Titanus Sasnalkahi went on a battling spree through the continental United States, fighting Titans such as MUTO 3-19 and Cusith, as well as killing an Apshait worker.
* In January of 2020, the malformed and polycephalic Titan Orthrus, who up to the point, had been suffering from side effects of his condition, was found dead near the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. An hour after Monarch was on the scene, the Titan got up and walked away. It was later discovered that parasitic eggs were found in and around Orthrus' brain (previously thought to be part of his condition), hatching into brooding parasites that puppeteered the Titan carcass, though despite this, wasn't aggressive to anyone or anything due to the parasites' control over the brain being limited by both Orthrus being dead and the fact that the brain and nervous system were in poor condition as a result of the condition.
* In July of 2020, Sasnalkahi faced off against Achlis near Toronto, and afterward, got more aggressive. It is inferred that he had fought the Bane of Quebec before his reappearance and therefore caught his infection. The newly-infected Titan attacked Montreal, Canada and Burlington, Vermont within a period of three days, each time being either chased away or lured away.
* In August of 2020, the Bane of Quebec attacked the city of Tiksi, Russia after briefly disappearing for some period of time, managing to resist attacks by the military and Monarch. Sure enough, the crab Titan Tambanokano arrived and fought the Wendigo. The two fought, with the crab Titan having turned the tide against the Titan, and was actively pushing the Bane of Quebec towards a pitfall trap set up by Monarch that leads to a magma chamber. However Tambanokano was then overpowered and knocked out. But then, two snake Titans, 'Rattler' Mehen and 'Yellowback' Yacumama, arrived on the scene. Yellowback was knocked out as well, but Rattler persisted, managing to amputate one of the Bane of Quebec's arms via headbutting. Rattler picked up Tambanokano's progress and continued pushing the Wendigo to the trap. At the rim of the hole, Tambanokano awoke and sent both in. The Bane of the Quebec attempted to escape, but Rattler managed to impale it, but not before the tip of its tail was ripped off by the Wendigo. The Titans then disappeared into the pit after Yellowback helped seal it.
* The mosasaur Titan Sang Buaya was spotted near an underwater Hollow Earth tunnel near the Seychelles Islands that would be the location of where the dead mimic Titan Akampeshimpeshi was found, evidently slain by Sasnalkahi. The Titan turned out to be able to reproduce asexually, and the nest of eggs nearby was proof that the Titan was not the last of its kind.
* The allosaurid Titan Anchanchu had an odd molecular structure found in its saliva samples, and when compared to those of the now rampaging Sasnalkahi, they matched perfectly.
* Off Diego Garcia, the bioluminescent fish Titan Tizheruk was found wounded, with the wounds being traced to Sang Buaya, who had become infected with the virus, known here as MIR-20. However Tizheruk showed no signs of infection, and the wounds healed relatively quickly. It was later discovered that the amount of mercury as well as bioluminescent bacteria in the fish Titan's body was enough to kill the infection. Two days later, Sang Buaya was observed chasing another Titan but in its infection-driven frenzy, lodged its head into a hydrothermal vent, resulting in Sang Buaya dying from overheating, and when it did, so did the infection. This pinpointed the vulnerability the virus and parasites have to high levels of heat.
* On the same day, Anchanchu was successfully quarantined at Sima Humboldt, Venezuela, the same site where the Titan first emerged during the Mass Awakening, being put under sleep by tranquilizer gas while Monarch researchers attempted to treat it. This proved that MIR-20 was no ordinary rabies virus, as it can spread to organisms besides mammals, the result of the virus mutating. At the same time, Orthrus was found dead in the Alps, this time with the parasites controlling the carcass dead as well, having apparently starved due to no success of finding a food source that is as of now, unknown. The body was found near a den where the mother wolf Titan Asena was raising her pup (nicknamed Cliffie), though fortunately was recovered in time before they can make contact with it and potentially catch the virus.
* In early September, Sasnalkahi reappeared, being visibly more messy and decrepit, with scraggly fur and white, pupiless eyes, as well constant salivation, foaming from the mouth, and aggressive behavior. The Titan reappeared at New York's Finger Lakes, noticeably not going near the water, and he didn't go near any cities at night due to the bright lights. However over the next two days during daytime hours, Sasnalkahi attacked town after town, and during this, briefly went entered Pittsburgh. No amount of luring on a bioaccoustic level was enough to draw it away from where it was, though fortunately evacuations worked well in preventing casualties. However on the afternoon of September 8th, Sasnalkahi detected the presence of Titanus Hahnunah nearby, as did Monarch. It followed the scent of it to an area near the township of Cranberry Twp. The turtle Titan was initially unbothered by the infected Titan, and ignored it. However when Sasnalkahi attempted to pounce, Hahnunah fought back, using his tail club as a weapon. The infected Titan's teeth luckily weren't enough to penetrate the reptilian Titan's shell and scaly skin, and Hahnunah managed to swing his tail hard enough to strike Sasnalkahi in the ribcage. This should've incapacitated Sasnalkahi, and would've ruptured internal organs, but besides the Titan being knocked backward, it didn't even flinch at the injury, despite the obvious bleeding from the injury area visible. Sasnalkahi then leaped into the air and pounced at Hahnunah, and the turtle Titan swung his tail up, seemingly missing, but just as the infected Titan was about to fall on top of him, Hahnunah's tail suddenly descended, resulting in a tail club to the head, killing Sasnalkahi and leaving his body headless. After, Hahnunah simply bellowed and walked away, the infected Titan's blood still on its tail club. Sasnalkahi's carcass was quickly disposed of, and blood samples among many other samples were recovered, as well as the surrounding area being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and Hahnunah was tracked down and once he was asleep, his tail club was discreetly clean and disinfected as well.
* Four days later, a cure for the virus had finally been made, with the mutation of MIR-20 providing an unexpected advantage to Monarch epidemiologists, who learned to take advantage of the virus's mutation and possible future ones. A day and a half later, the cure was shipped to South America to be used on Anchanchu, and over the course of an hour, the Titan grew less and less agitated, and with the help of several physical and blood exams, the Titan was given a clean bill of health and subsequently released from quarantine, with frequent check-ups showing Anchanchu's health improving. Over the course of a few days, many Titans, including Hahnunah, MUTO 3-19, Cusith, Row, Tambanokano, Tizheruk and Achlis were given the cure as a precaution. Other Titans such as Kraken (whom Sang Buaya faced off against prior to infection) were also treated. For Rattler and Yellowback, whose exact locations are unknown, had the cure dispersed through areas they were seen prior, and so far things have remained calm, marking the end to this outbreak, and hopefully not any future ones.

## Aftermath

Monarch had never dealt with a situation like this before, especially one that would cost the lives of many Titans. Though Sasnalkahi, Akampeshimpeshi, Orthrus, Sang Buaya and the Bane of Quebec are confirmed to be dead, it is better than MIR-20 infecting other Titans such as Godzilla, or worse, infecting humans. Vials of the cure are stored in the event of the virus resurging, and Monarch Epidemiology and Microbiology are now on a constant watch for any Titan-borne diseases, whether they be this virus or not. Areas where infected Titans tread were disinfected, and slowly but surely, things went back to normal.

## Trivia

* This was the first disease outbreak Monarch ever dealt with.
* It is still a matter of discussion on whether or not the Bane of Quebec had been the source of the virus, or if the virus originated elsewhere, whether it be from another Titan or something else entirely, though either explanation seems likely.
* Despite mammalian Titans not being the only ones infected, no avian Titan and no invertebrate Titan was infected, as shown by Akampeshimpeshi not hosting the virus in its bodily systems even after death.