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Plague was a term used by the Pernese to refer to any infectious illness or disease that affected large numbers of the population at once.
Description[]
Plagues occurred regularly over Pern's history. Plagues could be caused by a variety of diseases and could affect a single hold or large areas of the planet. When a Hold was quarantined due to plague, it flew a yellow pennant with a black dot. Treatment of plagues varied, but was limited for most of Pern's history by to the slow loss of knowledge and technology that affected all crafts, but especially the Healer Hall. Masterharper Robinton once stated that plague decimated "Hold, Hall and Weyr" on three separate occasions.
History[]
Fever Year (First Pass)[]
Featured in: The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall & Dragonsblood.
The Fever Year took place in Fort Hold during the First Pass. It was eventually found to be caused by a crossing of Terran and Pernese bacteria. It spread rapidly due to the overcrowding in the hold, and many children were orphaned. A cure was eventually developed and spread in secret, though not before the disease had killed over a sixth of the population.
Victims[]
Fire lizard illness (First Pass/First Interval)[]
Featured in: The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall & Red Star Rising/Dragonseye.
The Plague (Second Interval)[]
Featured in: Dragon Harper after-effects Sky Dragons
The Plague in the Second Interval spread across all of Pern. The dragonriders had to keep themselves apart from the Holds and Halls so their weyrfolk would not catch the Plague. The dragonriders did provide food and supplies by air drop. Facial masks were eventually created and distributed to help curb infection.
Victims[]
Dragon Plague (Second Interval/Third Pass)[]
Featured in: Dragonsblood, Dragonheart & Dragongirl.
The Dragon Plague occurred at the end of the Second Interval into the Third Pass. Lorana found the cure with the help of scientists from the First Pass, including Wind Blossom. The disease had an airborne transmission factor.
Victims[]
Flu pandemic (Sixth Pass)[]
Featured in: Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern & Nerilka's Story.
The flu pandemic in the Sixth Pass was carried by a feline from the Southern Continent. Curiosity about the feline, combined with two major gathers on the same day, led to the spread of the flu. Most deaths during this plague resulted not from the flu, but from other diseases contracted while ill. The disease was treated by a massive vaccination campaign to protect those unaffected.
Victims[]
Note[]
To be completely accurate, the Second Interval disease should be referred to as a flu pandemic - instead of a Plague - and the Sixth Pass disease should be referred to as a Plague - instead of a flu pandemic.
That is because 'Plague' is an infectious disease that affects humans and other mammals, such as the feline in the Sixth Pass, which was known to be the source. 'Flu', on the other hand, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, often with no known source.