[Swordmaker]

Not sure this is something they intended to be ‘bad’.

It would appear there was at least one researcher there working on studying the immune system of bats. They carry all kinds of scary crap (can I say that and still be a scientist? Hmmm) w/o getting sick. That’s an interesting realm of study to be sure. And likely will provide, at some point, ideas about how to control the spread of pathogens.

This doesn’t have to have been engineered to kill the planet, all non Han, or even destroy your opponent’s medical system. It could simply have been a project that accidentally got loose.

You and I agree. . . Accidents can, and unfortunately do, happen. Jumping to conclusions that it’s an engineered weapon is the least likely scenario because of how poorly it performs as a “weaponized” virus. However, as one that is being replicated in a lab for study and just gets released? That can work. I’ve seen reports how sloppy some students, in particular, can get in virology labs.

[Black Agnes]

This has been going on for nearly a quarter of a century.

Given what’s been done and to what microbe, I’m surprised we haven’t seen some catastrophe before now.

I’m thankful there are deep antiviral research programs with actual viable compounds now. If this had happened 20 years ago this would be a whole ‘nother story.

However, it’s early yet. Let’s hope this doesn’t mutate around any compounds we do have and we have enough compound in question to put out any brush fires.