There is a lot of information on the first, flu-like epidemic which preceded the outbreak of the Rage Virus. Scientist have been studying it ever since, but there is no consensus as to whether the second outbreak, the Rage Virus, is a mutation of the first virus or something entirely different.<span class="bbc_u">For the first virus, almost all applies that holds true for the influenza concerning incubation, transmission (droplet infection), survival of the virus outside the host etc.. </span><br/><br/>It affected, however, very often and strongly the brain and nervous system, which is atypical, and was incredibly aggressive once it entered y system, an infection with this virus leads to death far more often than any influenza so far.<span class="bbc_u">Common antibiotics did not help much, but there has been developed a new one which was tested very successfully on animals and is claimed to be harmless to humans. This medication has been handed out to every team member. A vaccine does not exist. </span><br/><br/>One theory is that the original virus survived for six months in the bodies of some of its victims, mutated or changed and broke out eventually (-> like varizella zoster virus that causes chicken pox, remains in the body, and can many years later cause shingles). Another is that the original virus is a mutation of a virus that normally affected animals only, mutated, and became infective to humans, too. There are others who believe it is a mutation of the rabies virus. There are voices who claim it is something that escaped from a lab....<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">Of the Rage virus itself, not a single sample exists.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_u">What is known of the Rage Virus is that there is practically no incubation span, symptoms follow the infection within minutes (this virus is not transferred via droplet/airborn infection, it needs a bite, or an open wound into which saliva or blood of the infected enters, or blood of the infected getting into your mouth or eyes, for example).</span>Those who have seen the film<em>28 Days Later</em>might remember the scene where one of the men looked up, had a drop of infected blood hit his eye and almost instantly showed symptoms, turning into a raging creature within minutes. That is what your characters know will happen.<br/><br/>I hope this helps, Leorobin? I'm sorry if descriptions are clumsy, it's pretty difficult for me with vocabulary that goes into such specific areas or terminology, my English isn't quite up to it, especially since I have no medical background myself...<br/>