CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 34 XIA XUE’S DOUBT (PLEASE VOTE AND COLLECT!)

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The three of them each held a bottle of HTC4 antiviral spray. From the moment they entered the room, they sprayed this solution in every corner. A delicate fragrance immediately filled the entire room, quite different from other harsh antiviral solutions.

After finishing spraying, the middle-aged man walked towards Xiao Lin and asked, "How did you discover that this patient was infected with the HTC4 mutated virus?" It’s important to note that data about the HTC4 mutated virus only recently reached Yanjing, and the confirmed symptoms were received by the CDC just this afternoon. How could a mere school hospital doctor be so certain?

"I happened to watch the news broadcast last night, and the symptoms of this student were very similar to those of an HTC4 virus infection, so I suspected it—just suspected it. Right now, I’m not entirely sure!" Xiao Lin had already planned answers for these questions.

"Alright, if you find any other patients infected with the HTC4 mutated virus, please contact us immediately!" Hearing Xiao Lin’s words, the staff thought it reasonable. After all, the HTC4 virus outbreak four years ago was incredibly shocking. As a doctor, noticing such things shouldn’t be difficult.

"Alright, it’s my duty!" Xiao Lin nodded, then looked at Tong Tong and said, "Tong Tong, these are staff from the CDC. They’re going to take you for treatment now!"

The staff looked at Xiao Lin and cautiously asked, "You? You’re not infected, are you?"

"I don’t think so. The HTC4 mutated virus spreads through saliva, but considering that it’s been over ten days since the outbreak in Jingliang Province with no major incidents, it likely survives in the air for less than ten seconds. This student didn’t cough at the school hospital, and only began to cough here. By that time, I was already wearing a mask!" Xiao Lin explained.

The CDC’s information on the virus seemed to align with what Xiao Lin had just said. They nodded and said, "It seems your school hospital already issued a notice this morning, knowing the transmission route and prevention of this mutated virus!"

Xiao Lin didn’t offer any argument, glanced at Tong Tong, then asked the staff, "What will you do with this infected patient?"

"We’ll first take them to the CDC for isolation and observation. If that doesn’t work, we’ll send them to Jingliang Province. The expert team has been stationed there for some time, and they have a unified patient isolation area." The staff didn’t conceal any information.

Tong Tong seemed a bit nervous, tugging on Xiao Lin’s clothes and saying, "Dr. Xiao, I...I don’t want to go!"

"Don’t be afraid; the CDC has better equipment and medicine to help treat you. I’m sure you’ll recover soon!" Xiao Lin comforted Tong Tong.

Upon hearing Xiao Lin’s words, Tong Tong obediently nodded. Somehow, Tong Tong felt extremely safe being around Xiao Lin, believing everything he said.

A group of five went downstairs, where a vehicle emblazoned with the CDC insignia was parked. Not far away, many students with brooms were busy cleaning the campus, with more and more students heading in their direction carrying brooms.

This is the power of administration.

Before getting in the car, Xiao Lin comforted Tong Tong a few more times before Tong Tong somewhat reluctantly got in.

On the way from the teaching building to the school hospital, Xiao Lin noticed that the entire Yan University was undergoing a massive cleaning effort. He felt a sense of calm, acknowledging that the nation’s epidemic prevention mechanism was indeed formidable. From the time he made the call to now, it had only been just over an hour. The response speed was beyond reproach; he hoped that the group of experts in Jingliang Province could quickly find a way to eradicate the HTC4 mutated virus.

When he returned to the school hospital, it was already close to six o’clock, the usual time to get off work. However, the school hospital was a hive of activity, with six CDC vehicles parked outside and numerous staff carrying disinfectant supplies.

Xiao Lin felt a bit speechless; it seemed a bit over the top, but they were clearly spooked by the HTC4 virus outbreak four years ago. At that time, over two thousand people in Huaxia died from the virus, and over three million were infected, second only to the SARS outbreak at the beginning of the century.

But thinking about it, the aggressive action by the CDC was justified; such a highly infectious virus needed to be nipped in the bud at its earliest stage.

The students who had come for medical treatment had mostly been seen, except for a few who needed examinations from other departments. The area outside the emergency room was now empty.

In the emergency room, only Xia Xue and Xiao Ning were busy disinfecting. When Xiao Lin returned, Xiao Ning nodded and smiled at him, "Back already, Dr. Xiao? How’s the situation with that patient?"

"They’ve been sent to the CDC!" Xiao Lin didn’t hide the truth from them.

"CDC? Why send them to the CDC?" Xiao Ning found it strange.

"She was infected with the HTC4 mutated virus!" Xiao Lin said matter-of-factly.

"What?" Xiao Ning was startled, instinctively stepping back two steps from her original distance of only two meters from Xiao Lin.

Xiao Lin chuckled and said, "It’s not as scary as you imagine, at least not as bad as the HTC4 virus from four years ago!"

"Dr. Xiao, how did you know she was infected with the HTC4 mutated virus? The hospital only just announced the prevention measures for this virus!" Apparently, Xiao Ning was also aware of the HTC4 mutated virus situation.

"I happened to watch the news broadcast last night, so I paid attention. I didn’t expect to encounter it today!" Xiao Lin said calmly.

Xiao Ning patted her chest, still in suspense, and said, "Thank goodness Dr. Xiao discovered it in time, otherwise, if that girl had stayed in the emergency room longer, we all might not have been safe!"

"Actually, this mutated virus isn’t as frightening as you think. Although it spreads through saliva, its survival time in the air should be less than ten seconds. This is one reason why there hasn’t been a large-scale outbreak in Jingliang Province yet!" Xiao Lin smiled, having gained a deeper understanding of the virus. However, despite deducing that the mutated virus’s survival time is short, he still felt a vague sense of unease deep down.

It’s very unusual; typically, for a mutated virus spread through saliva, the outbreak period is usually between three to five days. However, this mutated virus, from discovery until now, hasn’t shown any signs of an outbreak, with no news of deaths from Jingliang Province.

Watching from the side, Xia Xue continued her work, not participating in the conversation, leaving Xiao Ning to quietly speculate why Xia Xue, given her character, was so indifferent to a handsome guy like Xiao Lin. Was there some reason behind it?

At this time, Xiao Ning finished her work. It was the end of the working day, so she bade farewell to Xiao Lin and Xia Xue and left the emergency room.

After Xiao Ning left the emergency room, Xiao Lin saw Xia Xue giving him a smile, her eyes filled with a hint of doubt. Then she said, "Dr. Xiao, it probably wasn’t just because you watched the news broadcast last night, right?" Xia Xue had held her question all afternoon and took the moment with no one around to ask.