Bronchitis is a deadly and highly contagious illness characterized by mucus-secreting respiratory distress and eventual closing of the bronchial passages, causing the infected to suffocate and die. Bronchitis is one of the most feared infectious diseases in this alternate timeline, with no known cure or effective treatment. Consequently, it has shaped society, political systems, and medical research.
Bronchitis has an insidious onset, beginning with the seemingly innocuous symptoms of mucus-like secretions, a fever, and respiratory difficulty. Within a few days, however, the infected experience severe bronchial inflammation that causes the bronchial passages to close, ultimately leading to suffocation and death. Bronchitis has an exceedingly high transmission rate via aerosols, droplets, and direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces.
Due to its deadly nature and a 95% fatality rate, bronchitis has far-reaching socio-economic consequences. It has decimated entire communities, isolated victims, and forced societies to develop new norms and structures in an effort to prevent transmission.
Society in this alternate timeline is organized around efforts to prevent and control the spread of bronchitis. Schools, government buildings, and public places of gathering have been largely abandoned, as in-person interactions are deemed too risky. Virtual communication has become the primary mode of human interaction, replacing face-to-face contact with digitally mediated exchanges.
Society has been stratified based on exposure and infection status. Those who have been exposed to the disease, or who have recovered, are castigated and forced to live in quarantine enclaves on the margins of society. Individuals who have never been exposed are considered a higher class of citizens, protected and largely isolated from those deemed contaminated.
Prevention strategies focus on limiting the physical interactions between individuals, rigorous disinfection protocols, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, and protective suits. These protocols have become so deeply ingrained within society that they have shaped virtually every aspect of daily life.
Medical research has been completely redirected to investigate potential cures or improved treatments for bronchitis. Despite the urgency and focus of this research, only limited progress has been made to understand the underlying mechanisms of the infection or to develop effective treatments. A few promising avenues have emerged, such as anti-inflammatory drugs or gene therapies to strengthen the bronchial lining, but none have proven effective in clinical trials.
Collaborative global efforts, such as the BIMR, bring together leading experts and international resources to push the boundaries of science and technology. However, to date, a cure for bronchitis remains elusive and the illness continues to cast a long shadow across society.
