Chapter 637 - 487: Inoculating with Cowpox (Part 2)

Everyone has to pay the price for their own choices.

When Lin Miao heard the news, he sighed. However, if anyone falls ill, they could be transferred to Xue Family Manor for treatment.

But right now, he doesn’t want to play the good guy.

They need to properly taste the consequences of not following the rules.

...

Although the street ban order and voluntary quarantine in the city encountered some issues, and there were even some objections, under Pei Jian’s strong suppression, it was mostly implemented.

Production and commerce were completely stopped. Apart from patrolling government soldiers and officials, there wasn’t a single person on the streets of Dongshan City.

Even the beggars were taken into temporary isolation points.

Ten days.

The average incubation period for the "Measles" virus is ten days. If no symptoms appear within ten days in a situation where movement is restricted, the chances of being infection-free are high.

Then, those sharing the same roof with someone who becomes infected are subsequently isolated, systematically surrounding and eliminating the virus.

Even if there are sporadic outbreaks, they remain controllable.

This is the "anti-epidemic" strategy that Lin Miao gave to Pei Jian.

Pei Jian naturally understood the value of this plan, but it requires strong organizational coordination and logistical support to enforce it.

As long as the number of infected is reduced to a minimum, even a high mortality rate would be bearable.

On the second day of the street ban order, the number of cases in the city multiplied, suddenly increasing by four or five hundred. By the third day, it surged by over a thousand. Fortunately, most of them were mild cases, and at least these individuals were given immediate intervention and treatment once symptoms appeared.

Those in close contact with these individuals were also given medicinal soup daily to boost immunity.

On the fourth day, the number of cases slightly increased but didn’t double. This was obviously a good sign. If the number of cases did not suddenly surge for several consecutive days, it would indicate that the "Measles" virus hadn’t spread too severely.

It remains within controllable limits.

...

The isolation treatment point at Xue Family Manor also started admitting related patients. After the notice was sent out, dozens were admitted on the first day.

By the second day, over a hundred people had been admitted.

On the third day, approximately more than two hundred people were admitted.

Most of these were initially those held outside the city. Among them, those who fell ill were sent to Xue Family Manor, and those in close contact with the cases were divided into small groups. They probably never expected that staying isolated at home in the city could be more comfortable than suffering hunger and cold outside. This suffering, they can only bear themselves.

Even if they fell ill, providing them treatment was already an act of kindness.

Even if these thousands died, Pei Jian wouldn’t feel a pang of regret. No advice can save those doomed, and those who don’t listen aren’t worth grieving for.

Even if they left the city, no one would take them in. Wherever they went, they would be driven away.

Who would want to live closely with suspected carriers of the "Measles" virus?

"Young Master, apart from our area, several key passes leading to Dongshan have also had outbreaks of the Measles. It seems that no other places have been reported, and although Dongshan City discovered it later than we did, the number of cases there is much higher than ours..."

"There are more cases in the city due to population density and movement. Rural villages outside the city naturally have lower population density, and movement is less frequent than inside the city. To contract Measles requires a certain period of close contact, or the disease entering through the mouth and nose directly is necessary. Actually, as long as there’s no direct conversation and contact, the infection chance is not high. Also, each person’s constitution differs. City dwellers have poorer physical strength due to less intensive work and are more susceptible to infection. Looking at the cases from the city, many of them contracted and showed symptoms earlier than Mr. Cen, whom we discovered," Lin Miao explained. At present, epidemic prevention was the top priority; tracing the source was perhaps not the most critical, nor was it feasible to balance both.

"You’re right, Young Master."

"Is there anyone infected in our manor?"

"None have been found so far."

"It’s been six or seven days since we discovered the Measles. Have the infection cases decreased in the villages of Erli and Xiayuan?"

"Yes, disinfection, isolating close contacts, treatment—this approach works well. Even if some haven’t developed symptoms, all close contacts were isolated anyway. This truly is the best way. Some households with no cases and no close contacts remain fine and unaffected. Moreover, in our manor, by strictly wearing masks and washing hands before meals, no single case of Measles infection has been found so far!" Yue Mei’Er said admiringly.

"The average incubation period for Measles is around ten days, but there can be longer cases. Generally, if proper protective measures are in place, and no infections occur within half a month despite close contact with patients, it indicates our method is effective," Lin Miao stated. "This method may not save those who fall ill but can at least prevent infection and protect more healthy individuals from the threat of death."

"How is that girl, Su Yi, doing?" Lin Miao had been too busy in the past two days to check on her. He heard she was improving, so he hadn’t visited again.

After all, many others were awaiting his attention, especially critical patients who required individualized treatment, rather than using a one-size-fits-all prescription.