Love's So Contagious

Make Me

The majority of patients from the initial meningitis outbreak were discharged within a week. Gulf decided to release those from the Legal Hall once their symptoms improved and test results showed no signs of infection. However, the four individuals with complicating factors like HIV or Hep-C remained in the hospital for further treatment due to their underlying conditions. Gulf wanted to address their other health issues as well.

When a fresh wave of patients arrived, it was no surprise to Gulf. As his healthy patients from Legal Hall departed, a new outbreak emerged in a public housing complex on Gifford Street. It started with one family and quickly spread among the young children like wildfire. The initial cases were promptly reported by vigilant parents who knew their rights and wasted no time in taking their kids to the emergency room at the first sign of trouble.

Gulf was aware, from past experience, that not all parents would act immediately. Some residents in the complex didn't understand enough English to realize there was an outbreak, despite the press conference conducted by Gulf and Nuea. Others were afraid of drawing attention from the authorities, for various reasons. And there were those who believed they couldn't afford the medical expenses.

Gulf requested the parents of the early-arriving children to step in. "Listen," he told a specific matron, Arisara Veeradom, who had a commanding presence with her dark skin and braided hair. She always gave Mew a stern look whenever he caught her eye. "I know this isn't your responsibility, but no one in that community will pay attention to a group of white men in suits from the Area Public Health Office. I need your assistance to contain this outbreak as much as possible. These children are my main concern, and they are his too." He gestured towards Mew. "Please reach out to your neighbors, friends, anyone. If they exhibit any symptoms of this illness, even if they believe it's minor, urge them to see a doctor. Let us handle it. Don't worry about the finances; there are resources allocated specifically for this situation. The sooner we can provide treatment, the better the chances of a positive outcome."

Arisara shot Mew another disapproving look. "Why does a police officer have to be involved if it's just an illness?"

Gulf hesitated before responding to the question. He glanced at his partner, who gave a slight nod. "We're still uncertain. It could be a false alarm, or just a strange coincidence. But we can't rule out the possibility of someone deliberately spreading this bacteria."

Arisara shut her eyes and trembled. "My son, Bever—the one you met—he discovered a glass vial on the floor in the hallway the other day. He picked it up and started playing with it." She shot a glare at Mew. "And before you judge me, I had no clue there was some lunatic infecting people. I took the glass thing that he could have dropped and hurt himself with, away from him and disposed of it in the trash where it belonged."

Mew made a face and then turned his gaze elsewhere. "I feel like shouting and letting it all out, but honestly, I don't think I would've acted any differently." He let out a sigh. "It may not look good in terms of evidence, but parents aren't thinking about that when their child is playing with such a thing. All they care about is keeping their little one out of harm's way."

Arisara's expression softened, but she continued to stare at Mew with a hint of disapproval.

She went back to her neighborhood and spread the word to everyone she knew. Gulf wasn't certain of the exact number of additional children being brought to Rathanburi Medical, but by Wednesday, there were ten kids in the pediatric ward with bacterial meningococcal disease. A mother had also been hospitalized; a young lady who had her spleen removed following a car crash a couple of years back.

That wasn't good news for her.

Gulf's feet ached, because he was constantly on them. He went from rounds, to new patients, to more rounds, to more new patients and back again. It never seemed to end. He arrived at the hospital an hour earlier in the morning, and he stayed until ten at night, but the workload never decreased. Surely, it would have to ease up at some point, right? They'd identify who was responsible, and the influx of new cases would become more manageable.