Doctors Puzzled Over Possible Outbreak
Several doctors in Harper Rock have recently questioned whether we are seeing a new strain of viral meningitis spreading through the Harper Rock community. Various medical clinics around town have seen a sharp increase of patients complaining of symptoms such as sore or stiff neck, lethargy, and dizziness. While symptoms in some patients have seemed to have cleared up within just a couple days, others have demonstrated chronic, or repeat, symptoms regardless of treatment. In some cases, these symptoms have abated for up to months at a time before mysteriously reappearing.
"It's really bizarre," said one doctor at Groom Memorial Hospital, who agreed to speak to the Harper Rock News on the condition that he remain anonymous. "This strain of meningitis, if that's what it is, is acting like nothing we've ever seen. The only thing which is consistent are the symptoms of stiffness or soreness of the neck, loss of energy, and occasional dizziness or lightheadedness. Otherwise, it seems to come and go from patients seemingly at random."
Further evidence that this is a relatively new strain of the virus is evidenced by the fact that documentation of these symptoms in Harper Rock only goes back about 3 to 4 years. In other words, before 2011, there was no evidence of this particular virus occurring in Harper Rock.
Some doctors have expressed concern that the virus could be related to the outbreak that has forced the government to quarantine the entire neighborhood of Gambondale. However, Dr. Jerry Fisk, who owns a free clinic in Newborough, disagrees with this prognosis. "Though both outbreaks seem to have occurred at the same time, I've seen patients with these relatively mild symptoms come and go. If it was in any way related to what is happening in the QZ, the whole city would be under government shutdown. Whatever this is, thankfully, it doesn't seem to go much beyond these symptoms."
Doctor's at Groom Memorial have meanwhile expressed confidence that with further case studies, they will be able to get to the bottom of Harper Rock's mystery virus.