For some reason, growing up listening to weathermen reporting tornadoes and blizzards didn't prepare him much for reporting turbo rabies. Still, he's a professional. He can handle this.
"This is the timeline of symptoms as we understand them so far," he begins.
Then the list. His voice is firm, and not clinical, but as objective as he can manage. "In the first few hours, flu-like symptoms develop, including coughing, sore throat, difficulty breathing, and mild delirium. Over the course of the next day these symptoms worsen; people often become bedridden. Also present is emotional instability and worse short-term memory. For around a half-day afterwards, enough health returns to enable walking, but flu-like symptoms persist. This stage is marked by severe confusion and memory loss that results in getting caught in repetitions of trying to complete an action but forgetting that it was already done. Being reminded by other people only breaks this temporarily."
The paper flips.
"The next stage--which occurs about the 3rd day, 40 to 50 hours after first symptoms--is defined by intense rages and a drive to attack any moving object in sight, as well as the tracking of sound. Dexterity is sharply reduced, eliminating the use of doorknobs or complex tools." Yeah, those two specifically have stuck out in reports. "Self-preservation is not maintained. Garbled speech is occasionally seen. A half-day after this, approximately 60 to 70 hours from first infection, the body shuts down and becomes immobile. Symptoms include a homogenous behavior of calling for help, pleading, and weeping."
A brief pause. Here, his voice gains a hair of urgency. "Contracting the blight from someone infected is not likely in the first stages, but progresses rapidly as symptoms worsen. During symptomatic rages, infection is extremely likely via contact and practically immediate upon being wounded. In the last stage, any contact with fluids is immediately infectious. For your safety, it is necessary to stay sheltered in place and board up and guard both doors and windows; all lower floor curtains should be shut and all light sources kept at a minimum to avoid drawing attention. If you are in need of supplies or aid, you can contact the shelters at the Town Hall, the Greymare Library, or Prague Mill. If you or someone you know has developed symptoms, contact the physicians at Greymare Library immediately--"
... oh, right. Phil clears his throat. There's a shuffling and a sharp whap of paper, like he's straightening a packet out. "Uh, the rest of this is... radio stuff. Public instructions. Protocol. You know. It's a little less relevant, with the mansion gated and all."
no subject
"This is the timeline of symptoms as we understand them so far," he begins.
Then the list. His voice is firm, and not clinical, but as objective as he can manage. "In the first few hours, flu-like symptoms develop, including coughing, sore throat, difficulty breathing, and mild delirium. Over the course of the next day these symptoms worsen; people often become bedridden. Also present is emotional instability and worse short-term memory. For around a half-day afterwards, enough health returns to enable walking, but flu-like symptoms persist. This stage is marked by severe confusion and memory loss that results in getting caught in repetitions of trying to complete an action but forgetting that it was already done. Being reminded by other people only breaks this temporarily."
The paper flips.
"The next stage--which occurs about the 3rd day, 40 to 50 hours after first symptoms--is defined by intense rages and a drive to attack any moving object in sight, as well as the tracking of sound. Dexterity is sharply reduced, eliminating the use of doorknobs or complex tools." Yeah, those two specifically have stuck out in reports. "Self-preservation is not maintained. Garbled speech is occasionally seen. A half-day after this, approximately 60 to 70 hours from first infection, the body shuts down and becomes immobile. Symptoms include a homogenous behavior of calling for help, pleading, and weeping."
A brief pause. Here, his voice gains a hair of urgency. "Contracting the blight from someone infected is not likely in the first stages, but progresses rapidly as symptoms worsen. During symptomatic rages, infection is extremely likely via contact and practically immediate upon being wounded. In the last stage, any contact with fluids is immediately infectious. For your safety, it is necessary to stay sheltered in place and board up and guard both doors and windows; all lower floor curtains should be shut and all light sources kept at a minimum to avoid drawing attention. If you are in need of supplies or aid, you can contact the shelters at the Town Hall, the Greymare Library, or Prague Mill. If you or someone you know has developed symptoms, contact the physicians at Greymare Library immediately--"
... oh, right. Phil clears his throat. There's a shuffling and a sharp whap of paper, like he's straightening a packet out. "Uh, the rest of this is... radio stuff. Public instructions. Protocol. You know. It's a little less relevant, with the mansion gated and all."