Re: We Didn't Stand a Chance

I am sending this to everyone hoping that someone will do as I ask and as Dr. Maria Castillo would ask if she were still alive. The truth is that none of us are alive. By the time this message is sent, and you read it, I will be gone, too. If I'm lucky, I maybe have a few minutes left.

It was a bird. A bird brought this virus to our clinic, and it's a virus unlike any we've ever seen. Don't try to be brave and enter this facility. It's too late for us, but it isn't for you. Find where this virus came from and destroy it before it destroys our entire world.

Judging by how fast it spreads, it's going to originate from somewhere nearby the clinic. Don't underestimate it. It's deadly, and once it enters your body, you are doomed. If we had known what this bird meant, we wouldn't have allowed it into the building. It wiped us out within minutes of its death.

Dr. Castillo had our program set to record her observations. It will be sent in a few moments. Please do us all a favor and fix this before it gets out of hand because we don't stand a chance.

[2:03:56] My name is Dr. Maria Castillo, and I am a wildlife veterinarian at the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic in Belize, North America. A scarlet macaw was brought into the facility today by a native claiming that the bird was acting strangely...

[2:04:10] The macaw is a boy. Behavior seems off. Definitely not feeling well. The feathers are discolored. There's an odd-looking rash on its skin; I'm going to take a sample of that. [Clicking noise]...

[2:05:26] Feathers are practically falling out, but it doesn't seem to hurt him. There's a weird goo on the calamus. [Tapping noise]...

[2:05:34] Hey Nick, take this sample and see what you make of it...

[2:05:37] Head looks okay, eyes are a little watery, and there's a slight odor coming from the ears, showing signs of parrot fever...

[2:05:43] We'll start him on some fluids and tetracycline and see how he handles it...

[2:05:48] Oral examination concludes the beak is discolored and tissue is necrotic...not a good sign...however nothing else is wrong with the mouth. He isn't biting down on my finger...poor guy must feel so bad. It's okay, buddy. We're going to get you some help...

[2:05:57] [Gasp]...[Glass shatters]...

[2:06:03] Are you okay?

[2:06:06] Yeah. The slide just bit me is all...

[2:06:10] The first aid kit is in the cabinet over there. [Door opens and closes]...

[2:06:12] Range of motion is standard in both wings and feet. Signs of weight loss are probably due to weakness...not being able to find food. He's dehydrated...

[2:06:20] I'm going to run a CBC and culture to start narrowing down what could be going on...

[3:34:09] Treatment seems to be working. He is responding to me and seems a bit more energetic. Tests came back with some concerning results...

[3:34:25] His white blood cell count is at twenty-five thousand-one-hundred-and-fifty-six with lymphocytes and monocytes being the highest count...

[3:34:36] However, no parasites, nor are there any bacterial or fungal infections. Results verify that we are dealing with a virus, so all we can do is treat symptoms and hope for the best...

[3:34:45] The symptoms concerning me are the necrotic tissue around the beak and whatever is happening with his skin and feathers...

[3:34:52] Hey, Maria? [Papers shuffling]...

[3:34:56] Yes?

[3:34:58] You should see this...[Footsteps move away]...

[3:35:26] What is that?...

[3:35:28] I'm not sure, but it looks dangerous. [Footsteps move closer]...

[3:35:36] The substance taken from the calamus of the feather was found to have traces of the virus and the macaw's white blood cells inside it.

[3:35:43] But the white blood cells...were being destroyed...[Footsteps] I've never seen anything like this before...Whatever his body is fighting is winning...

[3:35:49] What did you find out about the necrotic tissue?

[3:35:54] Nothing. It's just dead tissue. [Choking noises]...

[3:35:59] What's happening?

[3:36:02] He's choking to death. [Footsteps running around] Get me an endotracheal tube! Hurry! [Doors opening and closing]...

[3:36:10] Here...

[3:36:12] I just have to...ow!

[3:36:13] Are you okay?

[3:36:15] Maria?

[3:36:16] He bit me. [Choking stops]...

[3:36:18] Is he dead?

[3:36:23] Yes...I want to know more about this virus...Listen, everyone! [Silence] I want to know everything about this bird. I want that woman in this facility...

[3:36:27] I want to know where she found it, how long she had it before bringing it here, and who it came into contact with. Let's get a move on it...

[3:36:32] Maria? [Voice cracks] [Shuffling]...

[3:36:38] I happened to look at this sample again...

[3:36:40] What did you find?

[3:36:42] It's alive...

[3:36:45] [Groans]...

[3:36:47] [Flapping]...Is it...

[3:36:50] [Loud Squawks]...[Screams]...

[3:36:52] IT'S ALIVE! RUN! [Screams]...It bit me!

[3:37:00] [Table flips]...[Crash]...

[3:37:02] Close the door! [Loud Squawks] Don't let him get you!

[3:37:05] [Screams]...My eyes! Help! [More screams]...[Crash]...

[3:37:08] Is she dead? [Voice shakes]...Jen...

[3:37:10] Take cover! Don't let him out! [Screams]...[Squawks]...[Smack]...

[3:37:12] [Jen groans deeply]...[Smacking sound]...

[3:37:15] Nick....she's waking up...

[3:37:17] [Growls]...[Nick and Maria scream]...[Metal clattering]...

[3:37:19] [Multiple cracking noises]...[Gurgling]...[Splatters]...

[3:37:36] I think you did it...

[3:37:38] [Maria breathes heavily] I think so, too...

[3:37:43] [More groans] They're all coming back to life...

[3:37:45] We need to get out of here...[Footsteps squeak]...[Growls]...

[3:37:49] Get the door open! [Snarls]...[Smack. Splatter]...

[3:37:53] I'm trying! I have too many keys! [Another smack]...

[3:37:57] Nick...

[3:38:01] There's more. How many people did that bird infect on the way here? [Door creaks open]...[Door closes]...[Muffled growls]...

[3:38:05] [Both breathing heavily] What do we do now?

[3:38:07] I guess we wait...[Maria sighs]...

[3:38:10] To be rescued?

[3:38:15] To die [Maria starts choking]...We know how this ends. We didn't stand a chance...

[3:38:17] [Choking stops] Maria?

[3:38:23] [Groans]...[Growl]...[Metal scrapes against floor]...

[3:38:25] [Crack. Crack. Splatter]...[Gurgling]...[Crack]...

[3:38:36] [Silence]...

[3:38:38] [Heavy breathing]...[Metal hits floor]...

[3:38:41] [Thump. Thump. Thump]...[Wheels scrape against floor]...

[3:38:47] [Keyboard clicks loudly]...

[3:39:04] [Groans]...

[3:39:06] [Choking noises]...

[3:39:10] [Silence]...

[3:39:12] [Ding] Message sent...

End of Transcript.