Hassa Virus

"*This virus is unlike **anything** we've ever seen. Sometimes it's airborne. Sometimes it's not.
We've been trying to find a cure, however, it mutates so quickly that we can't even pin it down.*"
―Dr. Laurence Hassa

**The Hassa Virus**, commonly referred to as **The Damning Plague**, was the name given to an unknown virus that was first sequenced by Dr. Laurence Hassa. The virus infected most humans who came into contact with it into zombie-like beings known as the Condemned. It seems to be a rabies-like pathogen and is transmitted through air and/or bodily fluids.

## The Spread of the Infection

**August 20, 2009**

Returning back to the United States from a business trip, Richard Boyer comes home feeling slightly ill. He attributes his discomfort as jet lag and continues to go to work the following day. As the day continues Boyer feels increasingly ill, however, his symptoms only seem like a case of the common cold. Two days later, Boyer suffers from a seizure and is sent to the hospital with worsening symptoms, such as an extremely high fever, muscle spasms, and excessive sweating. The very next day Boyer is pronounced dead.

**August 22, 2009**

Over the course of two days since Boyer returned to the United States, there have been an additional 83 recorded hospitalizations that have similar symptoms. All cases have died around 1-3 weeks of sickness.

**August 28, 2009**

Over 800 recorded cases within the United States.

The CEDA has recognized the unknown virus as a BSL-2. People with similar symptoms as Boyer are immediately quarantined. Research and development of how the virus is structured and transmitted has begun.

**September 8, 2009**

Cases of the unknown virus has increased to the tens of thousands. Dr. Hassa is able to successfully sequence the virus and scientists have been working day and night to find a possible cure. Due to rapidly increasing cases and deaths, DL-1 vaccines developed from the DNA sequence of the virus are given out to a select few patients for trial and research.

**September 13, 2009**

The DL-1 vaccination test subjects' symptoms seem to slow down and subside, with some cases of the infection being completely cured. This brings immense hope and further development of the cure is approved. As cases nationwide begin to slightly decrease, a DL-2 vaccine has been developed and was sent out immediately.

**October 4, 2009**

Sandra Sitkoff, a receiver of the DL-2 vaccine, arrives in a hospital with symptoms resembling Boyer. This time, however, the symptoms are extremely severe. Additional symptoms Sitkoff suffers from are seizures, confusion and loss of memory, extreme agitation, vomiting, and psychosis. She is immediately detained and quarantined. News of Sitkoff's case is censored and not shared to the public.

**October 6, 2009**

Thousands of cases with the same symptoms as Sitkoff are being reported and quarantined. The public is in a state of distress and demands answers.

Researchers come to the conclusion that Sitkoff’s case was caused by an enantiomer in the DL-2 vaccine DNA, reversing its effects and mutating to a new genome rendering all cures for the virus useless. The virus seems to target the central nervous system and muscular system. Sitkoff, still quarantined, attacks a nurse and during the struggle she vomits onto the nurse. Security is called and Sitkoff is subdued. The nurse immediately goes to remove her PPE and rinses off her body and face in an effort to prevent infection, however, unknowingly it is too late. Later that day, Sitkoff’s cardiac monitor flatlines, but she is still surprisingly moving. Under further review of a MRI brain scan there is still some brain function within the brain stem. Whether or not if the activity is her's or due to the virus is unknown.

**October 13, 2009**

Over the course of a week, cases of the virus have drastically increased to the hundreds of thousands. Sitkoff's case is still being researched as she is still somehow "alive". All body systems are shut down except the central nervous and muscle system. Due to the lack of attention and use of these body systems, they begin to decay.

**November 25, 2009**

The CEDA raises the BSL to 4. Millions of cases worldwide. All international trips have been shut down. First world countries have fallen under martial law, second world countries have followed behind (most of which are barely standing) and some third world countries have completely fallen into a state of chaos.

**December 12, 2009**

Worldwide pandemic, many countries have fallen completely with their governmental leaders fleeing to where they deem safe. Worldwide safe zones are put in place but are extremely overcrowded, putting a risk of an outbreak happening.

**December 22, 2009**

Cases in the United States are in the millions. With reports of thousands, if not, millions of the diseased attacking civilians. Those infected are being called the Condemned by religious groups and the media. The president has been ushered out of the White House and put into hiding, leaving the country to fend for itself. Winter begins to set in, some say this is the coldest winter they’ve experienced.

**7 years later, our story begins in the dead cold winter of Idaho.**