Biohazard

The hype surrounding the alleged end of the world according to sensationalistic misinterpretation of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012 -- a potential literary goldmine -- inspired this project.

Hollywood and media jumped on the bandwagon early in the year. Then, it was our turn...

In 1976, an outbreak of the Ebola virus caused 318 cases of hemorrhagic fever in Zaire. Of the 318 infected, 280 died: an 88% fatality rate. Outbreaks of such virulent diseases are often localized, though, as the pathogens kill the host too quickly for the epidemic to spread, especially when transportation is limited.

The Ebola virus has an incubation period of 4 days to just over two weeks. Onset is rapid. Its symptoms include headache, fever, chills, and muscular pain¾not unlike the common cold or influenza. In time, sore throat, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea appear. The most ghastly symptom, however, manifests itself within a week of infection.

A deadly virus, such as the aforementioned, reached the North American continent.

Modern aircraft enable travel from any major city, USA to Africa or the Pacific Rim, a trip that once required months, in only 15 hours. Given the sheer volume of traffic and connections from these airports alone, a pathogen brought in from abroad could infect most major American cities in a matter of days, or hours, given that its incubation period is 4 days; identical to that of the Ebola virus. By December, nine out of ten Americans died.

Within Biohazard 2012, nine authors reveal what transpired in their last few weeks, days, or hours during such devastation.