SATURDAY OCTOBER 2ND, 2021 - SATURDAY PANDEMIC STORY - CONCLUDED

 SATURDAY STORY - OCTOBER 2ND, 2021 - PANDEMIC - CONTINUED

Last Week’s story was set in 2033 about a “Green Nose” virus.  A volcano in Indonesia had a major eruption and blew massive ash and virus amounts into the air.  The prevailing winds carried the virus around the world.  In three days, about 90% of the population had green noses and about three days later, they had green ear lobes.  This particular volcano had contaminated water sources around the nearby villages in the past where close to 90% died.  It seemed like about 15% of females survived and about 7% of males survived the contaminated water.  

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In those first weeks, about 90% of the population got green noses.  The national and international bodies were on top of it.  Reading and analyzing the Indonesia volcano gave them a start.  Then the analysis that it the genetics suggested that although the gender issue due to women having two XX chromosomes and men only one X chromosome.  Research in the first few days looked at the particular chromosome and saw that about 90% (aka “normal”) has an indentation that the airborne virus was latching onto.  

The researchers assumed the results from the villages near the volcano would be similar to this outbreak - and that may be close to 90% of the population of the entire world could die within a month if nothing was done.  Researchers around the clock in every major research university and lab were working hard on the issue (and even then, about 90% of the researchers also had green noses!!).

The two main focal points:  might there be a way to get the indention on that particular chromosome to release the viruses; or might there be another substance that had a stronger affinity with the chromosome and would cause the chromosome to accept the new substance and release the virus.

Time was of the essence plus the reality of a world of haves - and have-nots.  One media source was describing this as if 24-carat gold was the substance that could displace the virus - and the wealthier natures could somehow administer some antibody that contained gold.  Thus the countries with reasonable wealth could save their population.  But, the poorer countries of the world (such as some sub-Saharan countries in Africa) would see 90% of their population wiped out in a matter of days.  

But, to solve the problem, develop the infrastructure to administer the antidote in about a month’s time looked impossible.  

Around the globe, research was going on continually.  An early promising path involved tricyrtomagnesium injections.  They muted the brightness of people’s green noses but didn’t change the virus.

Radiation was a real solution.  A study of twenty people with Green Nose underwent massive radiation and it did kill the virus.  The cost was about $200,000 per person - a solution, but not one that would work on 8 billion people.  And, the massive radiation had some side problems with hair loss. Scientists had a solution - could it somehow be used on a cheaper scale.

Other chemical treatments were tested.  Acids, based, massive water consumption, combinations.  

And, there were the homemade remedies.  A lady in Stuttgart Germany was sure that her consumption of 5 kilograms of sauerkraut caused her nose to turn red instead of green.  Blue Origins space company discovered that putting a person in zero gravity for a minimum of four hours did loosen the virus so that it was ineffective.  Space X also verified this research.  Fasting - except for water - for four days seemed to slow down the virus, although this research did not solve the issue.  Fasting but including strong over-the-counter medications also slowed down the virus and relieved the green nose.  It wasn’t sure to scientists how this might be in the long run.  There just wasn’t time to fully test possible solutions.  

A media report (that got widespread coverage on social media), that consuming large amounts of vitamin C, or acetaminophen (or both) quickly solved the issue.  A week passed and no definite solution emerged.  Time was running out.  The expectation was that after about two weeks, massive vomiting would occur followed by dehydration and death.  

Various forms of antacids were tested as they might lessen the vomiting.  Superwaters could be used to keep people hydrated.  

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There were snippets of amazing stories from around the world where the Green Noses disappeared.  In an outback Australian village that got water from a partially polluted river, noses returned to standard color within a day.  Another village in Mali - also on a polluted water source - reported the green nose symptoms disappeared.  A cattle ranch in Alberta reported their green noses disappeared (and, they too were using a polluted water source.  Older residents in Flint Michigan where water pollution had been extremely high in the decade from 2010 to 2020, also seemed not to be affected.  But children under the age of 10 in Flint got green noses, possibly since their water supply had been fixed.

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Could polluted water be a solution?  But, what about the long-term solution?  Some polluted waters had E.coli and salmonella bacteria - it might stop Green Nose, but kill a person in the long run.  

Strange as it might seem, researchers searched for ways to make polluted water that wasn’t dangerously polluted.  Water with vinegar (acid), sugar (to feed the vinegar), a couple of acetaminophen tablets, and an antacid pill became a possible solution.  The ingredients were largely available worldwide.  

There weren’t many choices as the virus went into week three.  Scientists described this as going to a roulette while and betting all the money on Red 3.  The recipe was about one cup of vinegar (regular or apple cider varieties) into one gallon of water, with three tablespoons of sugar, two acetaminophen tablets, and one antacid pill. For most of the world, it was about 1/4th of a liter into 4 liters of water (or 1 liter of vinegar to 16 liters of water),.  If you didn’t have acetaminophen and/or antacids it still worked but slower.  Put this into contains and leave it on a counter.  (In hot climates this worked well, in cold climates it needed to be at least lukewarm to be effective.  Drive at least four cups (or 1/4th of a liter) of the mixture four times a day. India and China were the two big population countries where the green nose virus started earlier because of their closeness to the Indonesian volcano.  Results from those countries seemed positive with the green noses and green ear lobes clearing up in two to four days.  

There were plenty of naysayers, but when these naysayers saw the results (or when they went into the vomiting stage), they quickly changed their minds. 

There were some side effects.  Bowel movements were green for a few days as the virus was flushed out with the vinegar solution.  A commentary suggested that the virus was a pollutant and it liked the (not-really) polluted water.  

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Media in every language hit the airwaves.  For some remote villages in Africa leaflets in the correct language (with illustrations) were airdropped.

Of course, there were some major failures.  About two million people worldwide still died.  The analysis suggested the media did not reach them or they chose not to follow the plan.

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An unintended outcome was soon flourishing - people around the world had stopped their wars and fighting because of green nose disease.  Sunni and Shiite Muslims saw that every group had green noses and learned to be tolerant.  Likewise, various ethnic groups in other places were accepted.  There was a recognition that although we might be different colors, different languages, and different philosophies that we are all humans.  A willingness to cooperate grew.

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So, Pollyanna Karen did save the world.  (And, for those which stronger science skills, please excuse my ignorance!!!)  

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LOVE WINS!!!

Karen