A journey into illness

The Zika Virus was found a few years back, when patients sick with the virus came in for diagnosis. The patients lived in area's where mosquito populations thrived, like the marshy area's or humid areas of Equestria. If an infected patient was pregnant when they contracted the virus, the offspring usually had some form of birth defect. Currently, there is no known cure or medicine for the Zika Virus.

Transmission of the Zika Virus is through mosquito bites, from a pregnant pony to her fetus, through sexual intercourse, and maybe even blood transfusion, which is highly likely, but untested. Some ponies will not always show symptoms or only have mild symptoms. The symptoms of the Zika Virus are high fevers, rashes, headaches, joint pain, red eyes, and muscle pain. The symptoms can last from several days to a week and patients rarely die of it. Once a pony has been infected with the virus they are likely to be protected in the future.

I groaned as I slowly sat up, my neck aching in pain, probably from bad posture or awkward sleeping position, but I ignored it as I stood up and stretched. My wife had already left for work, likely taking our kid with her. I sighed and quickly got dressed for another tedious day of filing papers and stamping other papers. I was an intern at a new company recently opened in my town. I slowly ate my breakfast while I read the paper delivered that morning. I slowly read over the local events and a tabloid about rising mosquito populations.

I finished my breakfast and left for work, keeping my head down as I walk. I kept scratching a small bug bite that had formed on my upper leg. I stopped scratching as I entered the large two story glass office building. I entered my small cubical to start a monotonous day of paperwork.

"Hey, Clip," I heard my boss shout. "Clip, I need you to get the memo into me, this memo won't just cost you your ass, but mine as well."

"Yeah, I'll, um, I'll get that to you," I nodded as he smiled and walked off. I groaned as I slowly rubbed my temple as a slow headache racked my brain. I relaxed myself and started my work slowly, but quickly picked up the pace.

Before long, I had finished my slow and painful hours, got the memo to my boss, and left. I quickly made my way home avoiding any and all contact. I threw my front door open seeing my wife and kid.

"Clip, are you okay, you look like you have a fever?" I looked up at my wife and smiled softly. "Come on, we're taking you to the hospital."

Curse my wife and her paranoia, but I agreed to go with her, more out of fear of her rage then my own self preservation. She got me some water and we started walking to the nearby medical clinic.

The wait to see a doctor wasn't long, as these ponies are very efficient when it comes to public safety.

"Hmm, headache, joint pain, fever," he bit the tip of his pen as he slowly thought on my predicament. "Have you been in contact with anyone that looked sick?"

"No, I don't think so," I told him as I slowly drank a bottle of water.

"Can I ask of you to do a blood test, so we can try and figure out what you have more accurately," I sighed and nodded, as I was quickly brought to a room to have my blood drawn. The doctor came back and slowly drew my blood. I became faint from seeing my blood, but I blamed it on the headache. "Okay, please come back tomorrow or the day after to see the blood test results, or immediately if you start bleeding from the gums or nose, if you become irritable, difficulties breathing, or if your current symptoms become worse, I'm asking you to stay home and rest, and drink water."

"Okay," I walked home with the help of my family, my wife one step from carrying me. Once we got home my wife made me some soup and put me to bed.

The next few days went quickly, as I was in and out of a conscious state. I drank more water than I had in years, but I slowly began to feel better, but on the second day of bed rest, a knock awoke me from my rest. The mail pony had delivered a message to me, the envelope looking very neat and fancy. It was addressed to me, from the head of the CCDC. The note had asked for me and my family to come to the general clinic down the road for questioning. My wife looked terrified when I showed her the letter.

"I hope we're okay, for you and my daughter's sake," she told me as we all walked down to the clinic. The clinic had a small makeover, consisting of some yellow barriers labeled caution and ponies in yellow hazmat suits. I met with my doctor and he quickly informed me and my family of what is happening.

"The virus you're currently carrying is an unidentified virus, a relative of the Dengue fever virus given to us by mosquito bites, but it appears to be less lethal than Dengue," I looked down at my now residing mosquito bite, and scratched it softly. "Well, the CCDC caught wind of it and were startled that it could be a slightly dormant version of Dengue, we already have 50 infected ponies showing similar symptoms as you, fever, headache, joint pain, but there are more symptoms, such as rashes, conjunctivitis, or red eyes, and muscle pain, but we've only had about 3 confirmed deaths."

"Why do I need to know this, I just want to rest," I mumbled softly.

"Sorry, thought you would have liked to know," he chuckles softly and proceeds to sit in a chair in his office. "Since you came to us first, you know what comes next, what happens?"

"Well, I was sleeping a lot, drank a lot, and I feel better, I can actually think without a headache, movement doesn't hurt, so I think I'm getting better," I tell him. He nods and writes it down.

"Have you had any recent sexual activity?" I shake my head. Again he writes my answer down.

"Okay, well, I guess just go home and keep sleeping and resting, again, come back if your symptoms get worse," he escorts us out and we return quickly, in which I resume sleeping.

I woke up the next morning, feeling great, but I stayed home just in case but I was moving around more than the last few days. I went to work the next day, feeling slightly sick, but I drank water through the day and managed it, but I kept it a secret that I helped Equestria find a new disease, mostly because I forgot about it.