Footage of a barn, coughing is heard in the background
Young child > Ma! My cough is black!
Woman > Oh shi-! Love, get an inhibitor!
Man, in distance > Uh... I think we lost that? Dog got into it.
Woman > WHAT?! For cry-... Okay, it's gonna be okay dear, just sit down will you. I'll take care of things.
The woman presses an emergency button on her child's Scribe, then grabs a phone and calls a neighbour, asking if someone can send over an Inhibitor.
— Scribe 2.0, recording submitted in custody trial █████
Knowledge of
Black Lung has improved, so despite various mutations, it still is manageable even if still occasionally fatal. However, that is under the assumption that proper medical care and detection methods are available. This works well within the
First City, but is far more complicated to those living outside its walls.
Defenders tend to still have plenty of options available, but more isolated
Homesteaders simply lack proper access.
As a protective measure, the
Science Department developed the Black Lung Inhibitor, an oral spray meant solely for emergency use in case of an active infection. It doesn't prevent the sickness and long-term usage comes with significant side-effects, so should not be used preemptively. Its main purpose is to delay the sickness by temporarily numbing the bacteria responsible for the disease and partially dissolving the black mucus. This helps reduce the fevers and buys time to get better medical care. In case of Homesteaders, this normally comes in the form of airlifting the patient to a hospital.
Inhibitors are supplied free of charge to all individuals outside the First City, as part of the
Universal Basic Income. Inside the First City, it is normally not needed but some locations do keep some at hand, for example daycares, just in case. Doses do expire over time and can be freely turned in and exchanged at all UBI collection points.
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