[solved] Victory Ball Influenza

Hey all, so I have a question that I suppose anyone who was playing at the time could help me with, though I'd also like some input from a mod or two.

As you may or may not know, I'm creating the character of Madam Pomfrey. Exciting, right?

Well I've heard rumours of this plot that went down last year, with this outbreak of influenza that hit Hogwarts during the Victory Ball. I was hoping someone could give me more specifics so that I can include it in Poppy's history, as she would have been dealing with the outbreak, as she was the school nurse. Unless it disturbs the already played out plot and the admins would rather me just leave it out.

Specifically, approximately how many people are we talking about that got sick and/or died? What were the symptoms? What medical care was already in place to deal with the outbreak? How did the treatment go down?

Thanks in advance!

I don't know exactly how many died, but I can give you a link (and quote) to stuff I've found. And anyone who actually participated in the plot should be able to give you info too.

Daily Prophet Report

Tragedy struck on the night of what many had nicknamed the ‘Victory Ball’. An unknown number of adults and children had to be rushed to medical care after falling ill with a fast acting mystery sickness.

Those who displayed symptoms, including difficulty breathing, increased pulse rate and feelings of nausea or dizziness, were detained in a quarantine ward in St. Mungo’s for a number of days before some were able to be cleared.

Of those who fell sick quickly, a large amount remains in hospital. Their condition is unknown. Ministry officials have said that while the strange illness has, so far, resisted any form of magical treatment, they are working with the medical staff at St. Mungo’s to procure a cure, and assure the magical community that one will be found soon.

This follows the ministry-issued statement last Monday encouraging any witches or wizards who experience any of the above symptoms to stay indoors and alert medical staff if their symptoms last for more than a week, and for everyone else to remain alert while out and about in public areas (a complete copy of this statement, including a list of hygiene-related charms suggested by the ministry can be found on page 16). It has been confirmed that those at risk include babies and small children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those who already suffer from other illnesses (such as Dragon pox or Spattergoit).

The cause of this sudden disease is unknown, though there has been much speculation about the circumstances in which it arose (more on this on page 22).

http://www.magical-hogwarts.org/rpg/index.php?topic=151230.0

^ I'll also see if I can find a copy of the thread (linked in the above) in the backup's so you can read the full thread if you'd like.

Thanks mucho!!!

Ugh I wish I was on MH for that; that's just the kind of thing I looooove.

I was in for this plot...too tired to think straight atm but poke me tomorrow if I don't manage to add in a few other points (one thing I do remember is that losing control of one's magic for a period of time was a side-effect for those who were seriously ill)

I was in for this plot...too tired to think straight atm but poke me tomorrow if I don't manage to add in a few other points (one thing I do remember is that losing control of one's magic for a period of time was a side-effect for those who were seriously ill)

*pokes*

*pokes*

Heheheh...

Okay, actually not much more I can add aside from my post in the linked question. The Victory Ball was for students and adults from all three schools and areas, so there were BB and Durm kids there as well. The ex-DE who created the disease was pretty much insane and already had some other kind of sickness, as I recall, so he basically was trying to kill off purebloods and take as many with him as possible, his reasoning being that if purebloods were still alive and not in prison, they clearly had been supporting the wrong side (I did say he was crazy). So muggle family members would basically have been immune.

A couple of played characters did die as a result, including students, and some people were affected by the symptoms for months afterwards. Symptoms came on quickly and initially resembled flu, though if anyone wanted to come up with other symptoms they fancied playing out we ran with that as well. Initially people would have gone to the hospital wing and then been transported to St Mungo's. I guess Poppy probably uses some sort of modified shield charm (as, I imagine, healers of contagious diseases might, kind of like a vaccination?) to make sure she doesn't catch anything contagious from the students she looks after which would account for her being able to take care of them without dying herself? Sam Dickinson, being deputy head, ended up pretty sick because he refused to go to the hospital wing and instead made arrangements for people to be moved, anyone uninfected to get portkeys out of Hogwarts etc. I seem to recall that for the most part, people who were less severely affected and got treatment quickly made a full recovery without side effects.

And...I think that's about it? Pretty sure they never found out who was responsible either, but I'm not 100% on this!

Thanks mucho! Sounds like tons of fun!