The New Plague is an infectious disease which first arose in the 2050s within the United States.[1]
Background[edit]
Research into possible cures for the New Plague created the Forced Evolution Virus.[1] West Tek started to develop a cure for the plague, establishing the West Tek Research Facility.[1] As a response to the virus, the United States entered a national quarantine to combat it.[2]
The government used the paranoia surrounding the virus to discourage assemblies, fuel anti-communist sentiment, and encourage informing government forces of suspected subversive elements. The government further used New Plague to register civilians, claiming a symptom of the plague was "socialist thoughts" and advocating isolation: people should stay indoors, read books, and avoid "ice cream socials."[3] Citizens were told that if they believed they were infected, they were to contact a disease control center, such as the Disaster Relief Outpost in Point Lookout.[4] West-Tek was ultimately unable to develop a cure and control of the West Tek Research Facility was handed over to the military in 2071.[1] In the Mojave Wasteland, a facility known as Affordable Al's Discount Hospital was constructed, offering "Revolutionary Treatments for New Plague at Low Low Rates!"[5]
Gameplay[edit]
Methods of controlling the spread of the disease were isolation and containment.[6] The worst symptoms included profuse sweating, unexplained contusions, and swelling, and eventually terminated in massive external hemorrhaging.[4]
Notes[edit]
- The New Plague killed Constance Blackhall's spouse in 2058.[Pub 1]
- The New Plague is an incorrect answer in the Pioneer Scout Medical Exam.[7]
Appearances[edit]
The New Plague is mentioned in Fallout, Fallout Tactics, the Fallout 3 DLC Point Lookout, Fallout 76 and in Season 2 of the Fallout Television Series.
Behind the Scenes[edit]
- The New Plague is mentioned in the Fallout Bible. The disease killed tens of thousands starting in 2053, and caused a quarantine to be declared in the United States. West Tek would start working on a cure in 2055.[Dev 1][Dev 2][Dev 3]
- The New Plague was mentioned in design documents for Van Buren, where it was also referred to as "Limit 115."[Doc 1][Doc 2][Doc 3] Similar to the Fallout Bible, the New Plague was said to be discovered in 2053 and led to a quarantine in the United States during the same year. It would end up killing over twenty thousand people in the United States and had symptoms similar to the flu or a chest cold.[Doc 4]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Vault Dweller: "Tell me about this installation."
ZAX: "This installation was established in 2055 as a biological research facility for experimental cures of the New Plague. However, in 2071, this facility was placed under United States military command. Research into possible cures for the New Plague created the Forced Evolution Virus, which was further developed in an attempt to create a transmittable genetic-engineering virus -- in effect, infectious evolution."
(ZAX.MSG) - ↑ Fallout Tactics intro: "...the United States will go ahead with the national quarantine, the New Plague virus..."
- ↑ Disaster Relief Outpost Terminal Entries; terminal, Protect Yourself!
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Disaster Relief Outpost Terminal Entries; terminal, Know the Signs!
- ↑ S2E2 - The Golden Rule
- ↑ Disaster Relief Outpost Terminal Entries; terminal, Remember to C.I.R.
- ↑ Pioneer Scout Camp Terminal Entries; Medic
- ↑ Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.87: "Fallout 3 Official Game Guide; Wasteland Census: Constance Blackhall, head of the estate after the New Plague made her an unexpected widow in 2058, cooperated with entrepreneurs from the Isla Negra Realty Company, who had been trying to acquire family real estate unsuccessfully for years. Despite overwhelming local cultural resistance, Isla Negra persistently attempted to bring tourism and modernization to Point Lookout and St. Mary’s County"
- ↑ Hoover Dam design document: "If it weren't for the fact that Mallet was in prison for carrying Limit 115, he would be either in someone else's prison, or dead from a gunshot wound to the head."
- ↑ Hoover Dam design document: "Limit 115 takes its toll on Hoover Dam. Those who do not die from the plague, flee Hoover Dam when others perish. Half of those who choose to remain become sterile."
- ↑ B.O.M.B.-001 design document: "Presper became determined to find a way to rid the world of chaos and human impurities, and discovered his savior in Limit 115. Through extensive research, Presper discovered the history of Limit 115 and its genocidal potency, and also discovered a viable means to cleanse the world."
- ↑ "{201}{}{"Discovered in 2053, the New Plague was a socially transmitted plague that killed an approximately twenty thousand human beings in the United States, including cities such as Denver, Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, and Colorado Springs. The time of death from identification of symptoms was three to five days. Symptoms included many symptoms in common with the flu or chest cold, and eventually resulted in clogged respiration, killing the infected subject."}
{202}{}{"The discovery of the New Plague resulted in the 2053 quarantine, and several emergency programs were established to find a cure for the plague. The Boulder Dome has limited information on the New Plague, since it was not one of the research concerns in the Boulder Dome. If you could find a medical research database concerned with the New Plague, or provide me with holodisks related to the New Plague, I could provide you with more information."
ZAX in Boulder dialogue pieces
- ↑ Fallout Bible p. 19: "TIMELINE REPAIR: SECOND STRIKE"
"2053: The socially transmitted “New Plague” arises, killing tens of thousands. The United States closes its borders and the first-ever national quarantine is declared. The source of the plague is unknown, but rumors persist that it is a genetically engineered weapon" - ↑ Fallout Bible p. 19: "TIMELINE REPAIR: SECOND STRIKE"
"2055: The West Tek Research Facility starts working on a new virus to kill the New Plague. Their viral research and close ties to the federal government eventually lead to them being chosen for the PanImmunity Virion Project twenty years later as well as Power Infantry Armor and laser research." - ↑ Fallout Bible p. 21: "TIMELINE REPAIR: SECOND STRIKE"
"2077 February: FEV Research is leaked to the world through an unknown source. Protests in many major cities and governments around the world, as well as accusations that the US was responsible for the New Plague. FEV is seen as the threat it is, and serves only to fuel tensions."