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Leaving the pig farm , Aria and Owen stripped off their hazmat suits and headed back .
In the car , Aria didn’t even pause to rest before urgently texting Caleb . ( Caleb , we need large quantities of veterinary blood collection kits ASAP !
Caleb replied instantly , [ Got it . On it right now . ]
Meanwhile , after reporting the situation to his superiors , Winston sent the compiled containment plan to the other village heads – only to be met with a wave of skepticism .
The medical staff confirmed that the source of infection was humans , not poultry or livestock . They all thought Winston was talking nonsense .
After all , the outbreak started in Jamelan . If it were human – to – human transmission , those infected could still receive government – funded treatment .
But if the source was livestock or poultry , their only fate would be mass culling .
None would be spared , not the pigs , cattle , sheep , nor even the dogs and cats .
That was the quickest and most fail – safe containment measure .
Briteron’s economic lifeline was pig farming , while Greino relied on sheep husbandry
For those small – scale farmers , the loss of their livestock would be financially devastating .
Rather than accept that outcome , everyone preferred to believe it was a case of human – to – human transmission .
One village head messaged him privately . [ Listen , Winston , whether the source is human or animal , it all started in Jamelan . Lost income is just one part
of it – think of all the people who took out loans to raise livestock . If this information gets out , it’s your village that’ll take the fall , not us . ]
Winston understood his point , but he knew that unless the source was eliminated , this outbreak would never truly end .
Winston let out a long sigh . With no other choice , he shifted to requiring all villagers handling livestock to wear hazmat suits .
As a result , the demand for hazmat suits would only continue to soar .
Fortunately , the authorities acted swiftly , locking down the villages before the outbreak could spread further . For the time being , supplies and manpower were just barely sufficient to keep the situation under control .
The village heads all reported that they had issued orders .
Aria and Owen returned to the lab .
As soon as they entered the school – turned – lab , a clamor of voices engulfed them . The villagers rushed over upon hearing the news .
Seeing Betty back on her feet and helping out dissolved the villagers ‘ doubts . They willingly stayed for treatment .
Aria slipped into her lab coat and dove straight into her work , while Owen headed off to assist elsewhere .
Hearing that many villagers had flocked to those students for help , Hannah’s face twisted in disbelief . She couldn’t help sneering , “ Letting a bunch of students treat them ? Those villagers must have lost their minds ! ”
Someone sneered , “ Ms. Gibson , you’re a Mandino University graduate too . Why look down on your school mates ? ”
Hannah put on a righteous front . “ It’s not that I’m looking down on them . They have no field experience – just book smarts . How could they treat patients properly ? ”
A villager shot back , “ They cured Betty . You’re not seriously suggesting their equipment was faulty , are you ? ”
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Hannah was rendered speechless . After all , her team still hadn’t managed to turn any patients negative , while other teams had .
Hannah cleared her throat and tried to sound upbeat . “ Come on , guys . Don’t let a bunch of students outshine us . ”
The team merely shot Hannah a brief , indifferent glance before burying themselves back in their work .
The only sounds left in the lab were the hum of equipment and the rustle of paper . Hannah
utterly ignored , humiliation burning in her chest .
Since the Giana incident , the staff at Heffner Hospital had been growing increasingly dissatisfied with Hannah .
After all , Ramon , dean of Heffner Hospital had personally come to Jamelan . Anyone showing support for Hannah would surely incur his resentment .
She must develop an inhibitor to prevent the spread of the virus as soon as possible .
At the thought of Liam coming to support her , Hannah felt a surge of determination .
As night fell , the pig farm blazed with light .