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Message no. 1
From: jdefazio@***.rr.com (Emily DeFazio)
Subject: New Question :)
Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 08:34:38 -0500
This one is not about belt fed ammo, or using our brains (my self, depending
on the time of day depends on whether mine is sleeping or working :) )
GM INFO/QUESTION (Not quite Spoiler)
Have any other GM's thought of using SARS as a new form of VITAS?
VITAS hasn't completely been eradicated, as far as I know, and I try to use
things from the news, etc for ideas, and as SARS is in the news, mags and
just about everywhere else these days, I'm thinking about evolving our VITAS
(currently the team has heard of a small out break north of Seattle) into
something like a cross between SR's VITAS and SARS.
Anyone else thought of this? Whatcha think- would it be feasible?
ed
Message no. 2
From: me@******.net (Hexren)
Subject: New Question :)
Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 15:35:32 +0200
ED> This one is not about belt fed ammo, or using our brains (my self, depending
ED> on the time of day depends on whether mine is sleeping or working :) )
ED> GM INFO/QUESTION (Not quite Spoiler)
ED> Have any other GM's thought of using SARS as a new form of VITAS?
ED> VITAS hasn't completely been eradicated, as far as I know, and I try to use
ED> things from the news, etc for ideas, and as SARS is in the news, mags and
ED> just about everywhere else these days, I'm thinking about evolving our VITAS
ED> (currently the team has heard of a small out break north of Seattle) into
ED> something like a cross between SR's VITAS and SARS.
ED> Anyone else thought of this? Whatcha think- would it be feasible?
ED> ed

----------------------

I dont think those are comparable Vitas was more like "spanische
grippe" high kill rate and people beeing unable to bring it under
control SARS is just beeing pushed up by the media. IMHO
Message no. 3
From: pf_mc@*****.ca (shadows within)
Subject: New Question :)
Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 10:31:27 -0400 (EDT)
> I dont think those are comparable Vitas was more
> like "spanische
> grippe" high kill rate and people beeing unable to
> bring it under
> control SARS is just beeing pushed up by the media.
> IMHO

I'm not so sure about that. SARS can't spread as fast
as VITAS, or the Spanish Flu did, but it's mortality
rate was increased to 15% (mostly because older folks
seem less able to resist it than the average). IIRC,
VITAS has a mortality rate of around 20%-25%. In areas
with poor sanitation controls, high population
densities, and limited medical technology, SARS is a
very serious and deadly concern.

If a GM were to treat SARS as VITAS-lite, I think that
it should be easier to resist, and would be more
susceptible to medical treatments. On the other hand,
it would be harder to notice. Areas like the Barrens
would be breeding grounds for new diseases like this
though. And don't forget that any disease is only a
few hours away from anywhere else on the planet -
exported cases were what caused the outbreaks in
Toronto and Singapore.

====Shadow

The future is painted on a canvas of infinite reach.

______________________________________________________________________
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Message no. 4
From: jdefazio@***.rr.com (Emily DeFazio)
Subject: New Question :)
Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 10:11:01 -0500
<snip>
In areas with poor sanitation controls, high population
densities, and limited medical technology, SARS is a
very serious and deadly concern.
<snip>
This is exactly what I was thinking, and as it is such a nasty way to go
(IMHO- coughing ones self to death does not sound peaceful)- plus we,
hailing from Texas, USA here, don't see it like China does, we see it a lot
like the West Nile Virus of last year "Oh, how terrible, let's all panic now
if we get a cold"... not everyone, but many ppl I've spoken to have already
gone in to Hospital to be checked... I'm thinking I'm going to push the
panic part of the disease... Runners are supposed to be paranoid, why not
panic them every once in awhile too :)

ed
Message no. 5
From: anders@**********.com (Anders Swenson)
Subject: New Question :)
Date: Thu, 08 May 2003 09:26:52 -0700
On Thu, 8 May 2003 08:34:38 -0500
"Emily DeFazio" <jdefazio@***.rr.com> wrote:
> Have any other GM's thought of using SARS as a new form of VITAS?

Well, I've always thought of VITAS as an analog for AIDS, cleaned up for the
general public. SARS has other issues, it would certainly rip through the
barrens of the world, but, then, there are probably periodical outbreaks of
such diseases that are just parts of the SOTA.
--Anders
Message no. 6
From: gurth@******.nl (Gurth)
Subject: New Question :)
Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 19:17:33 +0200
According to Hexren, on Thursday 08 May 2003 15:35 the word on the street
was...

> "spanische grippe"

"Spanish flu", in English (not to be confused with Spanish Fly ;)

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Hooligans (zn) baldadige watervogel
-> Probably NAGEE Editor * ShadowRN GridSec * Triangle Virtuoso <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://plastic.dumpshock.com <-

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Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998
Message no. 7
From: me@******.net (Hexren)
Subject: New Question :)
Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 19:29:46 +0200
G> According to Hexren, on Thursday 08 May 2003 15:35 the word on the street
G> was...

>> "spanische grippe"

G> "Spanish flu", in English (not to be confused with Spanish Fly ;)


----------------------

thx :-)
Message no. 8
From: robertennew@*****.com.au (Robert Ennew)
Subject: New Question :)
Date: Fri, 9 May 2003 12:02:38 +1000 (EST)
--- shadows within <pf_mc@*****.ca> wrote:
> > I dont think those are comparable Vitas was more
> > like "spanische
> > grippe" high kill rate and people beeing unable to
> > bring it under
> > control SARS is just beeing pushed up by the
> media.
> > IMHO
>
> I'm not so sure about that. SARS can't spread as
> fast
> as VITAS, or the Spanish Flu did, but it's mortality
> rate was increased to 15% (mostly because older
> folks
> seem less able to resist it than the average). IIRC,
> VITAS has a mortality rate of around 20%-25%. In
> areas
> with poor sanitation controls, high population
> densities, and limited medical technology, SARS is a
> very serious and deadly concern.
>

IMHO slowly spread, less publicized (hence seems to
have a lower mortality rate as cases aren't reported)
are silent killers even though they may be just as
deadly; being explained away as a mystery or
blamed/mis diagnosed as something else, given a chance
to mutate & gain viral strength because of ignorance.
Ireckon this is what happened with SARS & why It got
out of hand where the authorities could have contained
It, (bit of an imbarrasment now It's out in open for
the government to be critisized;)

> If a GM were to treat SARS as VITAS-lite, I think
> that
> it should be easier to resist, and would be more
> susceptible to medical treatments. On the other
> hand,
> it would be harder to notice. Areas like the Barrens
> would be breeding grounds for new diseases like this
> though. And don't forget that any disease is only a
> few hours away from anywhere else on the planet -
> exported cases were what caused the outbreaks in
> Toronto and Singapore.

I think you should also remember that there're Super
Carriers (laymens term) that are either totally immune
or have minimal inefectual symptoms, many totally
unaware unless screened specifically (I can't
emphasise this enough seeing as some ingenious viruses
mask their prescence in the form of another less
serious biological, hence such fearsome reputations of
advancement potential).

So don't even think of discounting a third rate area
just as the hazardous breeding ground, It also has the
vital key to cureation of the epidemic. Biologicals
have the insidious disire for survival,to spread/sow
their seed & gain in strength & number for the
survival of the colonie of parasitic organisms.

These "super carriers" are best suited host bodies to
propogate & then spread without, smart don't you think
& that's how they've learn't & grown since dawn of
time (we were once 1 cel germ/microbes etc. new
viruses just figure It's their turn to evolve upp the
anti &rule the earth, us becoming the extinct dinosaur
species ;). Depending on size/density of community
there'll be 1 or several super carriers living in
anguish, infecting all. Find them, cut off the
beast(s) head from the neck then you can deal with the
plebs (you don't need re infection/contamination
trouble, 'cause once you've blasted the virus within a
inch of It's life but missed a little, It's like
cancer, comes back with a vengence to bite you on the
arse, this time taking the whole cheek)

Just a bit of extra paranoia for your players, a evil
GM could even have a PC becoming contaminated unawares
into a super carrier & infect the whole team ;) he he
he

GZ

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