Anomaly-89

**Name:** Blastomyces severus

**Anomaly Hazard Rank:** Secure, Risk, Hazardous, Perilous, Deadly, Devastating, Triggerable, Erratic (choose one)

**Type:** Microorganism

**Knowledge Level:** Complete, Fulfilling, Satisfactory, Little, Unknown (choose one)

**Special Advisories:**

Biological Hazard

## Description

   Anomaly 89, identified scientifically as Blastomyces severus or *B. severus*, is a dimorphic fungus believed to be evolved from Blastomyces dermatitidis or *B. dermatitidis.* It is much more severe and evolved than *B. dermatitidis* when causing blastomycosis. When in mold form and present to the naked-eye, it appears as white-brown fluff.

It lives in moist environments, such as decaying wood and swamps, and has been discovered in areas around the Mississippi River and the Everglades and has potentially been found in areas around the Appalachian Mountains and around Lake Michigan.

## Behavior & Effects

In nature, *B. severus* favors moist environments and has been found in areas around the Mississippi River, and in the Everglades. It is potential that *B. severus* lives around banks of Lake Michigan and in the Appalachian Mountains. When left undisturbed, *B. severus* can divide extremely quickly and take over areas relatively with ease. During cold seasons or environments, division stops and *B. severus* stays dormant until the temperature rises.

*B. severus* has dimorphic properties, presenting in both mold form at 25°C (77°F) and yeast form at 37°C (~98°F). During any of these forms it is able to divide, varying in speeds from fast-moderate to unnaturally quick mitosis. In general, *B. severus* is highly parasitical to other biological forms, such as animals, plants, and other fungi. When present in animals, it is a causal agent of a special type and extremely severe form of blastomycosis exclusive to *B. severus,* called blastomycosis S.

*B. severus* can become present in an animal when spores of *B. severus* are inhaled, or by touch, especially prolonged touch. It can also enter through the eyes, ears, and other openings in the body. It also can become present in moist areas or areas that sweat frequently, like the armpits or between the toes. When *B. severus* infects or becomes exposed to an animal, it quickly begins dividing and covering wide areas. It also shifts into yeast form because of the body temperature. Eventually, it becomes detected by the body, where the body responds by increasing body temperature, which is present in the person as high fevers. If *B. severus* is present in the lungs, the body will also respond by coughing and presenting pneumonic-like symptoms. Once symptoms begin appearing, it is now declared blastomycosis S. Once blastomycosis S starts, it is nearly impossible to cure, although amputation is possible if present in a small area and located quick enough. Once a subject is infected by *B. severus,* it is deemed Anomaly 89-1.

*B. severus* will continue spreading through the entire body, and if present internally, will spread throughout internally, spreading through organs and the blood stream. Other symptoms may will include *B. severus* visibly present on the skin, symptoms relevant to organs infected by *B. severus,* and fatigue, along with nausea and loss of apetite. By late blastomycosis S, subjects infected by *B. severus* appear completely covered by a fluffy, brown-white mold. Subjects are completely unsalvageable by this point, and likely will die soon. Once the subject is deceased, *B. severus* will act similar to a virus, converting the body cells to *B. severus* by injecting its DNA into the cells. It will do this process at a biologically impossible rate. *B. severus* will continue spreading from the body throughout the environment at a quick rate as well. Theories suggest it is possible *B. severus* can take over a large portion of Earth if left unchecked.

Due to *B. severus*'s properties, it is considered a biological hazard, and only authorized personnel with proper biohazard equipment can come into contact with *B. severus.*

## Discovery of Anomaly

*B. severus* was discovered on May 5th, 1979, in a neighborhood in Louisiana. A call was inputted to a mold removal service by [INFORMATION WITHHELD], an old woman who complained that their pantry had a large mold growth. They also complained about feeling sick and stated that they believe it was because of the mold. Once the service had arrived at the home, they tented the home and fumigated it with a gas to remove the mold. They removed the tent two days later and left.

On May 14th, 911 received a call from a neighbor who requested a welfare check on the old woman, who she stated had not left her home in a week and complained about a stench coming from the home. Two law enforcement officers arrived at the home, where they knocked on the door, but no response was made. They eventually announced that they were going to enter the home, where they broke down the door. They eventually found a large growth of mold on a sofa in the living room, which appeared in the shape of a body, where they immediately evacuated the home and requested immediate medical assistance. The home was tented and deemed a biohazard, and [INFORMATION WITHHELD] was declared deceased by hazmat squad. Eventually, the FPD arrived at the location to search the home, where they recovered a sample of the mold. The mold continued to grow around the home, until the hazmat squad came and burned the home. This was later discovered as a mistake, covered by the Investigative Services in Incident A-89-1.

## KAFP Procedures

Areas where *B. severus* is endemic should be supervised frequently for large growths of *B. severus.* All large growths of *B. severus* found in nature should be immediately terminated with AKG, and these fires should be excused to the public and other officials as controlled burns. All cases of blastomycosis S should be withheld from the public. Individuals infected with blastomycosis S should also be taken into the care of the FPD. All photographs and videography of blastomycosis S and other related entities of Anomaly 89 should be withheld from the public and should be taken down if found on the internet. Individuals found with samples of Anomaly 89 should be arrested and interrogated, and the samples should be confiscated and decided whether to keep as a sample or to terminate.

When contained for testing, Anomaly 89 should only be reserved for BSL-4 laboratories or facilities that are owned by the FPD, otherwise Anomaly 89 should be kept in a Biohazard Containment Chamber (BCC) with Rank 5 Clearance required to enter. Only personnel with complete biohazard suits and segregated air supply should be allowed into the chamber to test or come into contact with Anomaly 89. All personnel are required to enter the decontamination chamber and take a full decontamination shower when entering and exiting the testing chamber. The viewing chamber should include the moisture levels and the temperature of the testing chamber. Moisture levels should be kept below 1%, and temperature should be below freezing at all times.

Images or videos or mentions of Anomaly 89 or *B. severus s*hould be taken down if found on the internet. If at any time a testing chamber containing Anomaly 89 exits freezing temperatures, biohazard alarms should be activated immediately by automation, and if not, present personnel should manually activate the alarms.