Brisbane Virus

Named for the Taurian Concordat world of Brisbane, the Brisbane Virus is a bloodborne degenerative nerve disease without a known cure that leads to death after around two years. On Brisbane, it is also referred to as "Bad Water" by the local population, a name for the condition that seems to be unknown or at least not in use elsewhere.

The most notable sufferer of the Brisbane Virus was Janice Calderon, the only daughter of Protector Thomas Calderon, who contracted the disease while visiting Brisbane during a grand tour of the Concordat in 3038.

Jaince Calderon contracting the Brisbane Virus has resulted in increased focus and resources to cure the virus, especially among those who wish her to adopt the Protectorship. In 3055 Janice traveled to the Magistracy of Canopus for a promising experimental treatment, unfortunately it required constant retreatments and was only partially successful at best, still leaving her confined to a wheelchair. As of 3064, the New Avalon Institute of Science's College of Biology/Medicine was rumored to have developed both a cure for the virus and a means of reversing the nerve damage it caused, claims that many people across Concordat cited as evidence of the Federated Suns perfidy and desire to manipulate the Taurian realm, their "refusal" to provide the cure to hamper House Calderon's control and ensure the collapse of the Concordat. Others claimed the Federated Suns were behind the rumor, hoping to convince Janice to travel to New Avalon so she could be replaced by a body double much like Operation GEMINI, while some believed the Davion cure definitely existed as the Brisbane Virus was a Davion bioweapon all along.

Bibliography

• Bad Water (short story)
• Field Manual: Periphery
• Handbook: Major Periphery States
• The Periphery (sourcebook)