Nero Variant

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the parasitic organism, Toxoplasma gondii. In healthy populations, the disease is easily resisted and most never show any symptoms. Complications that do arise from the disease are rarely fatal. Around early 2044, the public was made aware of a mutation in the parasite that could potentially be dangerous. This mutation was the result of environmental factors and was mostly found in untreated drinking water. This meant that rural communities were most at risk. By 2045, toxoplasma nero caused outbreaks of severe toxoplasmosis throughout the world. When infected, the host experiences flu-like symptoms for up to a week before the symptoms worsened tenfold.
Rats are a common carrier of toxoplasma gondii and nero. The parasite would lie dormant in their bodies and once the rat was consumed by a feline, the parasite would begin to reproduce within their digestive tract. Infected cats would go on to pass the parasite to humans through their fecal matter; though bites and scratches from the cat could also lead to infection. Toxoplasma nero favored sources of untreated water. Further mutations made various warm-blooded creatures potential hosts for the parasite. Farm animals were popular carriers as well. The animals would remain asymptomatic while the parasite reproduced inside of their digestive systems. They would then go on to contaminate the surrounding soil through their fecal matter. Humans who ingested meat from the infected animals would soon succumb to toxoplasmosis.
Symptoms of the nero variant of toxoplasmosis are debilitating and irreversible. After a short period of incubation, patients would begin to experience flu-like symptoms that gradually worsened over five to eight days. Progression of the disease would lead to chronic migraines, temporary vision loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, and confusion. In the later stages, complete vision loss was a major concern as well as impaired hearing, psychosis, and seizures. Without an effective treatment, the final stages led to a significant decline in the patients' motor skills, which would cause them to lose their ability to speak.
The Silent Scourge was named for the disease's final stage. Prognosis is grim for anyone afflicted with toxoplasmosis. In the rare instances of someone surviving the cycle of the disease, that patient has an increased chance of developing dementia in the future. Any change in personality is permanent; patients and survivors alike shed any sense of self-preservation in favor of taking unnecessary risks.

Type

Parasitic

Origin

Mutated

Rarity

Common