The Return of the Spanish Lady
The 1918 Influenza Virus is Back
by
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“And how to you propose to manage the situation, Doctor?”
“Well, Madam Mayor, first we have implemented a full quarantine of the town with the help of the provincial police. Although, I was against this at first because I felt it would risk causing panic and some civil disturbances, I did relent to it after rethinking.”
As she talked about civil disturbance she looked briefly at Josh, in a sense pointing at him. Josh got the message, but this time he was in the team with the upper hand and was letting someone else do the fighting.
“We are monitoring closely all suspect cases, and quarantining systematically any new infectious person. Our main worry at this point is the propagation of the disease. It took us a couple of days to get going but now we have regained control. We know exactly where everyone causing a risk factor is and we are treating every case with the utmost precaution.”
Vivian couldn’t contain herself much longer.
“Doctor Ferguson, I’m a little disturbed when you talk about cases. To me, we are talking about citizens, not “cases”. Each person that is in your care is not just a case, or a suspect case, but a real person. I care individually for each of them and I know a large majority of the citizens of Lakedge by name.
So far, you haven’t told me what you are going to do for people in Lakedge that are already stricken by this flu. You are trying to contain the spread of the disease, but that’s a battle that my statistics indicate you seem to be loosing.”
The gloves were off now, with no holds barred. So Susan fought back.
“Mayor Hedgerow, as in every crisis situation, there is a bit of confusion and even some chaos at the beginning. But we have now caught up with it and regained control. We will continue providing the best possible treatment for those that are presently stricken with the means that we have. And if everything goes as we planned, you will gradually see a reduction in the number of new cases” she stopped and corrected herself “sorry, new people affected by the virus.”
Vivian wouldn’t let go. “I would like to ask you again, what treatment are you offering for those who are already sick with this flu?”
“Madam Mayor, at this time, we are treating with certain drugs that reduces the symptoms and provide relief at least temporarily. In the meantime, the pharmaceutical companies are working on finding and developing a vaccine for the virus. As soon as this is ready, we will be in a position to eradicate the virus altogether.”
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About the Book
In book one of the Lakedge Disaster Series, Josh Stuart is a family man with firm principles and strong values. But when a stranger rides into the quiet town of Lakedge bringing fear, division and death, Josh, his family, indeed the whole town are forever changed.
They eventually realise that this Spanish Lady has remained hidden for almost a century. The last time she was out in 1918, she rampaged through the world taking more than 20 million lives. Now she is out of hibernation, she is on the hunt, she is hungry for blood. Her next stop just happened to be…
Lakedge.
About the Author
Alain Normand graduated from University of Ottawa, Canada, in Public Administration and Political Science. After fifteen years in administrative position, he embraced a second career in Emergency Management. Involved in many relief operations such as the 1996 Saguenay Floods, the 1998 Ice Storm, September 11, the Blackout of 2003, and other local emergencies, he became aware of the threat of a pandemic during the SARS epidemic.
Employed since 1999 as Emergency Manager for the City of Brampton, Ontario, a municipality of 500,000 people, he lives there with his wife Nicole, and his children Nathanaelle and Gabriel. An older son, Philemon works out west.
“Return of the Spanish Lady” is Alain’s first attempt at writing a full-length novel. This is Book 1 of a trilogy called the Lakedge Disaster Series. See book 2, The Curse of El Ninõ, and book 3, The Harness of the Riviera.
Please visit his web site at: