Countries that feel like they are “going down”, won’t go down alone.
It’s stupid. But war games are like that.
I read the stand many years ago. the early part of the book dealt with a 99.99% fatal bacteria (accidental release, US/DOD). I don’t remember alot clearly but so many things I have seen actual governments do or say resonated me right back to that book the last month. He really nailed how governments would lie about how bad things were and keep lying even when no one believed them.
and yes, the initial infection country made sure the whole world got it.