Prion Fever

Overview

Prion Fever is an allergic reaction that can occur when an individual has the Prion Inoculation injected. The Prion Inoculation is a cocktail of bacteria native to Deseret which are injected into the stomach that allow an individual to digest the prions (misfolded proteins) that occur naturally in many species of animal life of Deseret.
These prions cause a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases by causing proteins in the body to refold into similar shapes. Prions use the digestive system to reach the brain and nervous system, forming clumps of tissue that destroy nerve endings and brain cells.
After injection there is a chance of the body rejecting the inoculation, with the body going into fever to burn the foreign bacteria out. Children born to parents who have been inoculated have a high chance of being born with the bacteria naturally present in their digestive systems. This chance increases with each generation that is either born with the bacteria or receives the inoculation.

I've always said it takes a special kind of crazy to risk suffering through body and vein swelling, non stop sweating, and hallucination instead of just taking the hint that the animal life on this planet just don't want to be eaten. As part of the diplomatic team the inoculation was mandatory for me but I have to say, after trying Desereti River Squid Tacos..........it was worth it.

— Iria Bandeira, Cultural Exchange Officer Attached to the Sperare Embassy in Deseret

Stages of Prion Fever

Stage One

Initial symptoms appear 3-5 days after inoculation.

• Fever and chills
• Cough
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Hoarseness
• Mild muscle pains around the abdomen and groin

Stage Two

Roughly 12% of individuals who contract Prion's Fever develop further symptoms.

• Distended belly
• Severe muscle pains around the abdomen and groin
• Flatulence
• Veins engorging, turning greenish-blue, and pressing against the skin
• Heavy sweating
• Mild Hallucinations

Oscar, I am sick of hearing you and I'm sick of smelling you. Go to the hospital before I kill you.

— Marlijn Schuttelaar, resident of Zarahemla

Treatment

While the vast majority of cases of Prion's Fever are mild, precautions should be taken to prevent the illness from developing into Stage Two. Individuals who suffer from Prion's fever are strongly recommended to admit themselves into the hospital but home care is possible. Treatment includes:

• Maintaining hydration
• A diet heavy in Old Earth originating vegetables, especially seaweed
• Sleep
• Low intensity walks
• Stretching

For those who progress to Stage Two Prion's Fever the following treatments are recommended:

• Inserting a gastrostomy tube into the stomach to deliver nutrients directly to the stomach if eating becomes difficult
• Prescribing a strictly vegetarian diet of vegetables originating from Old Earth
• In extreme cases inserting a tube shunt to relieve pressure from internal gasses inside the stomach

Despite treatment about 3% of individuals who suffer from Stage Two succumb to the illness and die.

Many Desereti animals have evolved to contain prions in their muscle tissues, acting similarly to skin toxins in old Earth species like Poison Dart Frogs. The isolated Desereti colonists sped up their research into protection from prions when the colony's initial stock herd of meat animals (cattle, sheep, pigs, etc) were whittled down from natural predators and disease.