EPISODE 2 – DURABILITYDesperation sets in as doctors work feverishly to discover a viable method of delivering a cure to ailing mankind before the epidemic crosses borders in this tense finale.
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Desperation sets in as doctors work feverishly to discover a viable method of delivering a cure to ailing mankind before the epidemic crosses borders in this tense finale.
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Determination Despite Disaster
The nation’s panic grows in proportion to the number of infected people. Anti-social behavior becomes the norm. People begin avoiding each other, afraid that they might be carrying the mites. Some wear masks in an attempt to protect themselves from the microscopic invaders. Citizens view facial contact during a greeting to be as much of an assault as deliberately coughing on someone during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government cautions citizens against facial contact. Leaders stop short of a lockdown, but severely limit travel and border crossings. Experts try ultraviolet light and skin exfoliation procedures. Epidemiologists notice that the mites are resistant to the usual treatments. The bug infestation is spreading faster than anyone can monitor.
Dr. Kim develops an obsession with finding a cure. He works tirelessly day and night, pouring over scientific research and trying out new treatments on his patients. He vows to save Sarah and all the other people from the infection of these relentless mites.
But despite his best efforts, not everyone makes it. There is one patient in particular, a man named Jack, who seems to have all the promise of recovery, but ultimately succumbs to the mites.
The news of his demise sends shockwaves through the medical community and worries Sarah. She intensifies her facial hygiene regimen with various clay masks and exfoliation techniques. Yet, the expanding lesions persist.
Desperate Discovery
The growing mites have a voracious appetite for sebum, an oily substance that the skin’s sebaceous glands secrete. Sebum protects and lubricates the skin and hair. A depletion compromises the skin’s natural barrier. Brittle skin and dry hair increase susceptibility to infections.
By analyzing the role of sebum, scientists approach a medical breakthrough. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is an essential polymeric molecule present in all living cells. It acts as a messenger to carry instructions from DNA for regulating the synthesis of proteins. What is key is that in some viruses RNA rather than DNA carries genetic information.
A team of scientists discovers that the Demodex mites have a unique genetic structure that is a candidate for a new RNA modification. The treatment is similar to the one used to fight COVID-19, but this one targets the sebum in which mites live and reproduce while feeding on dead skin cells.
The news brings much joy to Dr. Kim. He immediately contacts the lead scientist to find out more about the treatment and how he can use it to help his patients. Within weeks, the clinical trials gain approval on test subjects, including Sarah.
Preliminary results are nothing short of miraculous. Within days of receiving the treatment, Sarah’s skin starts to clear up. The boils and lesions begin to disappear, and her skin becomes soft, smooth, and healthy once again. Other patients report similar outcomes. The nation’s heath agency grants permission to modify the RNA of patients across the country.
The solution is not perfect, of course. Everyone cannot afford the expensive treatment. Some patients experience side effects or have difficulty recovering from massive sebum depletion. But overall, it is a huge step forward in the battle against the mites.
Sarah’s recovery is miraculous—reversing all her negative emotions during her initial onset. She is grateful to Dr. Kim and the team of scientists who developed the RNA modification treatment that saved her life. So she is eager to share her story with others.
Delightful Dissemination
Sarah takes her experience to her social media channel. She publishes photos of her before and after the treatment. These encourage her affected followers to receive evaluations for Demodex mites.
This recovery story shocks Sarah’s followers in a good way. They gain inspiration. This is a sign of hope, and they are eager to learn more about the RNA modification treatment that saved her life. Thanks to Sarah’s bravery in sharing her story, more and more people recover from the Demodex mite outbreak.
Years later, people still talk about the deadly Demodex that defied dermatology and the heroes who fought against it. The public and medical community hails Dr. Kim and the team of scientists who developed the appropriate treatment. They also attribute honor to Sarah as a hero for using her platform to highlight anecdotal regimens. These preserved her life until the cure became available.
The world may never forget the terror of the outbreak, but thanks to the bravery of those who fought against it, this is a story that ends in hope and triumph.
The End
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