The 2010 Fornax flu pandemic is a national outbreak of a new strain of H4N4 influenza virus, often referred to as "Fornax flu", in the Republic of Fornax. It was first described in July 2010 in the midst of the STS M367 Outbreak in the same country. H4N4 appeared to be a mutated virus of the STS M367 virus and H1N1 influenza A virus.
The outbreak began in the city of Sypogen when the virus strain was wrongly classified as a STS M367 strain. The Fornaxian government closed the border of Fornax in order to avoid a global pandemic. Citizen's freedom of movement was then controlled to slow down the spread of the pandemic. However, both attempts fail due to the Great Fornax Flood which helps to bring the virus into new territories. Currently, the pandemic continues to spread within Fornax and its neighbouring country Xena.
The pandemic, together with the Great Fornax Flood, have caused Fornax to suffer both economically and financial. Its population is also in a rapid decline. The pandemic is also one of the contributing factors of Fornax joining the Caroline Union.
Classification[]
The pandemic is called the "Fornax flu" by the international media, while the virus itself is known as "Fornax flu" or "H4N4". It is called pandemic H4N4/10 virus by WHO, while AIN Department of Education, Safety and Health refers to it as "2010 H4N4 flu", although the term "Fornax flu" was more commonly used.
Signs and symptoms[]
The symptoms of Fornax flu are similar to other influenzas, and may include fever, excessive coughing, headache, myalagia, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, nausea, vomitting, dizziness and fainting. People at higher risk of serious complications include people younger than 20, people with open wounds especially minor cuts and injuries and those of any age with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, or weakened immune system. People above the age of 20 have a slightly better chance of being immune to the Fornax flu, but have a high chance of being infected.
It is extremely difficult to determine whether a people is either infected with Fornax flu or is in need of severe medical attention as the nature of the virus is similar to other influenzas. There are also cases where infected people die without showing any signs or symptoms.
Virus characteristics[]
Transmission[]
Prevention[]
Despite numerous efforts made by the Fornaxian Government to control the pandemic, the virus continues to spread around, especialyl with the help of the Great Fornax Flood as the virus survive longer when in contact with water.
Public health response[]
Vaccines[]
Infection control[]
Travel precautions[]
Prior to the Fornax flu pandemic, Fornax was classified under the DESH's TAW's Biological Alert category due to the STS M367 outbreak. The TAW Alert was extended to the Fornax flu pandemic on 11 July 2010.
Containment[]
After the Ministry of Health increase the Public Health Alert from Orange to Black due to the uncontrollable spread of H4N4, the Fornaxian Government have declared a State of Emergency on all provinces of Fornax.
Afterwards, in an effort to prevent the virus from escaping Fornax, its border was closed at midnight on 13 July 2010. This resulted in non-Fornaxian citizens not able to leave the country. the respective diplomatic missions are contacted about this issue. Trapped non-Fornaxian citizens are given free accomodation at several hotels nationwide. So far, no non-Fornaxian citizens have left the country. All financial trading was ceased to prevent a financial meltdown.
Starting from 16 July 2010, freedom of movement within Fornax is further restricted especially in educational instituitions, medical instituitions and airports. Public transport, especially high speed rail systems, bus systems and mass transit systems, have their operational hours reduced. Office hours were halved. Further physical parliamentary meetings have ceased and are temporary replaced with non-physical parliamentary meetings.
Facial masks[]
Due to the effects of the Swine Flu Scare, the people of Fornax ignored the pleads made by the government to wear surgical masks in an attempt to minimize the spread of the virus. This cause the members of the parliament to amend the National Pandemic Act. On 11 July 2010, the Fornaxian Parliament passed the amendments made towards the National Pandemic Act with an unanimous agreement.
The amendment included a new law into the act which states that wearing surgical masks when not residing in their place of residence during a pandemic is a mandatory requirement, no one is exempted from the rule. Flouting the law will result in punishment. Eateries are exempted by the rule only if approved by the Fornax Ministry of Health.