The Weeping Phage
Characterized by weeping ulcers, severe neuropathy, and systemic scleroderma, the Weeping Phage swept through The Unified Kingdoms of Craysilt from 5202NG to 5209NG, claiming much of the population as it did so. It would shut down major organs as it ran its course through the bodies of Humans and Elves alike.
There was so much death, an entire industry surrounding removing it arose for a short time. Unfortunately, those who were hired to respectfully remove the deceased were, themselves, inevitably infected, and they also perished.
Transmission and Vectors
The weeping sores developed by sufferers of this devastating illness also affect their lungs, and this aerosolizes the virus, delivering it each time the infected person coughs. Simply touching any of the sores' discharge would almost certainly infect a caregiver. It is a "temperate" bacteriophage; meaning, it changes the genetic code of its victim, injecting its own genetic instructions into its host.
Causes
A bacteriophage, dubbed L. Lipofixviridae Carnivori, is the cause of the Weeping Phage. A "temperate" bacteriophage, it carries an RNA payload that it injects into its host, changing the host's genetic makeup and instruction.
Treatment
Many of the clergy were able to help their devoted followers with Lesser or Greater Restoration, but other than that, the virus just had to run its course. Many people survived, in the long run, but the genetic code injected into them is still copied from parent to child to grandchild, and beyond, every generation.
One could say, the virus is a true survivor.
Prognosis
While the mortality rate was quite high, the disease did not kill everyone that caught it. Although, those that did survive a run in with L. Carnivori were never quite the same afterwards. "The Phage" brought down anyone it came into contact with, indiscriminately. It cared not about status, wealth, or health. It brought down mighty warriors, and laid the most powerful wizards low.
Sequela
Nerve problems, and shortness of breath, would plague those who survived the disease for the rest of their lives. Lethargy, confusion and balance issues could also happen, as well as a loss of taste and smell, to survivors of a battle with "The Phage".
Affected Groups
Only Elves and Humans ever contracted the disease, although it is postulated that Gnomes may also have been susceptible to the Weeping Phage.
Hosts and Carriers
While "thankfully" does not seem to be a word one would associate with this terrible epidemic, the fact that only humans could infect other humans, and only elves could infect other elves, was a real blessing in the end.
Prevention
The only way to truly ensure prevention of "The Phage" was to sequester oneself entirely. Many hardy souls restreated to the Great Woods, and to the other massive forests of Pax, but the majority of the populace did not possess the skillset to survive out in the woods, alone. Some took to the sea, others ran away to the mountains.
Medical professionals that would treat the sick were few and far between, but their advise was to never touch the discharge, wear a mask and other protective garments, and double glove.
Epidemiology
The outbreak started in the ports of Greynor, and spread up the River Wutjörn like wildfire, to Craysilt, then beyond into Cotnor, where the cold weather and hardy population finally put an end to the dreaded disease.
History
The very first noted infection was traced back to a sailor in Greynor, who seemed to have contracted it while living with a cult loyal to a desert efreeti.
Cultural Reception
The shunning of the sick was so endemic that people began justifying walling their neighbors into their homes alive. The sick were treated with heartless abandonment, and in many cases, vitriolic derision.
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