>>Medical scientists warn us of viral pandemics that could wipe out 30% of the world's population in a matter of weeks. How much more an engineered virus released without warning, without a stop at an airport checkpoint, where someone unwittingly just walks in and releases it in a crowded mall, thereby sending it out in every direction?
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>Frank Herbert's "White Plague"
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"normal" plagues will have the problem that reducing the population will lower probability of new infection. Herbert's idea of gender selective mortality is a clever way to jump that hurdle neccessary&imminient in the plot - but for real pandemics species crossing vectors are necessary as travel will be stopped as much as possible. Now if the vector would include some flying birds or cockraches hitching a ride with food transports could hit us like fleas and rats in the middle ages