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Walking Nest Disease

Mortemitisis, more commonly known as Walking Nest Disease, is a parasitic infection in which an infected host will incubate small spore-sized eggs within their respiratory system until the body bursts.   These eggs incubate larvae of Mortemites, a species that reproduces asexually through airborne transmission to unsuspecting hosts.  

Prevention

Growing eggs within a body cannot survive in temperatures below 86°F (30°C). The safest method to preventing further exposure is disposing of any known hosts of Mortemitisis. The host's body temperature would decline rapidly, killing the infection inside.   At any signs of a patient exhibiting symptoms of the disease, the area must be evacuated immediately and quarantined for an extensive period of time. Quarantine can last depending on the conditions of the environment. Few days in colder climates, but almost indefinitely within warm dry areas.  

Transmission

Outbreaks of Mortemitisis in selected areas of the southwest originate from settler's interactions with the local population of Mortemites. Silver and gold miners would scout through caverns to develop new mineshafts. On occasion, Mortemite nests will be found. A strong sign of finding a nest is the high increase in the surrounding temperature going further into naturally-made tunnel systems.   A Mortemite Queen would spray its victims with a high-pressured spray out of its thorax. This spray contains millions of microscopic fertilised eggs, entering the respiratory system of the victim.   When the host has perished and its body bursts from the high pressure, it will emit microscopic spores similar to the Mortemite Queen's concoction. The spores would spread around the area, infecting any others in close proximity to the host. This in turn will continue the reproductive cycle for a Mortemite.    

Symptoms

There are a few noticeable symptoms when diagnosing Walking Nest disease:  
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sharp pains in the chest
  • Bloating
  • Sweating
  • Shiver
  • Ticklish sensation in the torso
The most definitive symptom linked to Mortemitisis is a constant need for warmth. Infected patients would consistently wear many layers of thick clothing and reside in hotter areas. This is theorized due to the parasitic eggs sapping the body heat from its host, resulting in a constant sensation of coldness for them.  

Treatment

The most effective way of treating Mortemitisis is freezing the infection out. Since Mortemitisis grows inside extremely warm climates, having an infected patient drop their core body temperature below 86°F (Ideally aiming for 77°F) for between one to three hours, will kill off the infection.   Doctors would recommend isolating yourself in cold climates, which is easier said than done. Most reported cases of Walking Nest disease are found in the hottest climates in the country.
*DISCLAIMER: This image above was made using the Midjourney AI imaging prompt. This is not a real photograph.*
"A town can become deserted within the day as soon as someone mentions that disease with sterness. "
- Arthur B. Barrows, Mayor of Kingston, Texas,1866
Type
Parasitic Infection
Origin
Mortemite Queens
Rarity
Unique
Transmission Method
Airborne
  Statistics
18 Confirmed deaths
2 Confirmed recoveries
190~ Estimated deaths
10~ Estimated recoveries
Pictured Above: A Mortemite egg that has continued to grow outside of its host (1863)


Cover image: by Butcher (via Midjourney)

Comments

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Jul 5, 2024 02:56 by Keon Croucher

First off, absolute nightmare fuel and I love it. Love it to death. Brilliant.   But taking commentary further, I like the thought you put into this. You established this parasite well, established its living conditions in solid terms, really laid out the parameters for its success. I like that, its a simple but important detail for parasites and parasitic conditions, so well done with that. It is a curious thing the larger creature the queen that like sprays all these eggs. How does a queen come to be if this is how they reproduce. Is it just like a percentage chance thing? So curious. Very cool though, well written

Keon Croucher, Chronicler of the Age of Revitalization
Aug 22, 2024 08:26

Great work on the overall article layout. You have definitely put some thought into this, though perhaps a little more polish is needed. It is a terrifying infection, made more so by the fact that, at least right now, the only know cure is inflicting severe hypothermia, which has its own dangers.   How big are hatched Mortemites? When the host bursts are only spores released? A queen, to many, would imply a hive, is this the correct assumption for the Mortemites?   I understand why spores and eggs are used interchangeably, but there is a slight contradiction between reproducing asexually and the implications behind fertilized eggs.

Check out some of my summer camp articles, like the dangerous flying jackalope or dragon wasps. Or, for something more light-hearted, there is the whimsical language Gobbledygook and Jaden's interesting job as a guano polisher.