Case History
In mid-november of 2005, Günther Friesinger visited the Ulaangom Biennial in the Republic of Mongolia. Günther was representing the group ‘monochrom’ at the festival where he held two lectures and took care of a small monochrom exhibition. Friesinger stayed another two weeks in the area for vacation at the Uvs Nuur lake and travelled to a couple of small towns in nearby Russia via the border town of Tashanta.
After returning to the capital of Mogolia he directly departed to Miami to attend some meetings at Art Basel Miami Beach.
On November 28, 2005 – shortly after his arrival in the United States – Friesinger noticed first signs of dizzyness and nausea. He informed us about his situation via email and tried to regain his health by staying in his motel room. Because his situation worsened he decided to visit a local medical practitioner, Frank Van Juntz, MD, who took blood samples. There is acute evidence that he is carrying a rare, but highly contaigent sub-form of the Arad-II Virus (Onoviridae family), of which Freiburg virus is also a member. Arad-II is a trigger of Morbus Gamow-Shapley disease. Of the approximate 1,500 identified Arad-II cases worldwide, nearly all of the patients have died in a state of mental aberration.
Friesinger did not return to the office of Dr. Van Juntz, he checked out of his motel and is now considered missing by our group. We think that he is either in a feverish amentia or is disavowing his situation. Nevertheless, Friesinger is walking around the different art fairs in Miami Beach and is spreading the pathogen. The situation is critical. A worldwide outbreak – due to the many visitors from all over the world – is imminent.
Our biosquad unit is in contact with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and a team of experts, including Dr. Van Junzt.
We want to find all the people that Günther Friesinger smalltalked to and handshaked with. We want to retrieve and destroy the business cards he has spread. Additionally we must take him into custody and in the event of his death cremation is absolutely necessary.
Time is running out. Please help us.
For further information and vaccination, please visit our center at sixspace at the Aqua Hotel (1530 Collins Ave.), Room 220.
Contact: +1 305.538.4361 / Room 220.
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| Miami Beach // Crisis Update |
We'll inform you as soon as new information is available.
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Dec 4 / 02: Disposal
Operation "Kyrie Eleison".
Best Western Hotel, 4333 Collins Ave., 9:30 AM EST.
Hotel personnel is very cooperative.
Approaching room 514.
Unlocking door.
Subject laying in bed.
Subject dead.
Time of death, approximately 9:15 AM EST.
Too late to cremate.
Wrapping body in plastic.
Destination: bathroom.
Requesting D2-X acid from mobile decontamination unit.
Using D2-X acid to dissolve corpse.
Phase 1.
Phase 2.
Phase 3.
Mission accomplished.
Informing headquarters.
Arad-II Miami Beach Crisis averted.
But can we be sure?
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
5:15 PM]
Dec 4 / 01: Friesinger / CCTV
Friesinger spotted in the lobby of Best Western, 4333 Collins Ave., 9 AM EST.
CCTV picture:
Infrared extrapolation:
His body temperature is alarming.
Bio squad informs hotel manager and leaves camp.
Patient takes elevator to his room.
T-minus 1 hour and counting.
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
5:01 PM]
Dec 3 / 02: Preparations For Evacuation
The staff will be informed that viral outbreak preparedness procedures have been initiated and that they should report to work immediately. The following actions will be initiated to protect unit resources.
- Move or secure any critical documents or items
- Unplug all electrical equipment
- Place plastic covers over all book stacks and computers
- Post final instructions for returning crews on the entrance door
Any remaining duties in preparation for evacuation must be completed. Final information, if available, on planned evacuation locations for staff should be collected. All information on preparations will then be forwarded to the Director. Once their duties are complete, staff will be released.
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
4:52 PM]
Dec 3 / 01: Reporting
Operation "Counterstrike".
We meet Dr. Frank Van Juntz at the small art fair where three of Friesinger's business cards were retrieved.
Van Juntz is an internationally acclaimed practitioner and medical researcher at Weyland Medical Center. On November 28, 2005 -- shortly after the missing patient's arrival in the United States -- Friesinger noticed first signs of dizzyness and nausea. Because his situation worsened he decided to visit Dr. Van Juntz, MD, who took blood samples.
Dr. Van Juntz became a leading member of the Arad-II Miami Beach crisis team.
"It is our duty to duty."
Van Juntz verifies the info material.
He inspects the site...
...and informs us about current de-escalation strategies of the US government and ICQ messaging.
Miami Beach is a densly populated area. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 89,104. During art fairs the small island sometimes even hosts an additional 20,000.
Van Juntz measures airborne particles on Collins Avenue.
"When we all give the power, we all give the best. Every minute of an hour, don't think about a rest. Then you all get the power, you all get the best."
Van Juntz might be eccentric, but he is a pro.
The doctor thinks that Friesinger talked to and/or handshaked with approximately 50-100 people per day. He is sure that the subject handed out about 200-250 business cards.
Thank God, the vaccine is finally available in considerable quantities at affordable costs.
Just a few drops of the substance on a sugar cube...
...can save a "life".
"The patient is still on the loose and gets more and more infectious. Even his corpse poses an enormous threat. Sunday, bloody sunday!"
If we cannot locate Friesinger, even a big scale vaccination campaign in the city will be useless, as many of the visitors will start leaving the city tomorrow.
- "I hope we can play golf together next weekend. Otherwise I'll definitely shoot panicking Arad-II victims on my property."
- "Yes, sir."
The team needs a refreshing decontamination shower.
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
5:12 PM]
Dec 2 / 01: Scanning Art Basel
Operation "My Sharona".
Arriving at Convention Center / Art Basel Miami Beach, 4 PM EST.
Overlooking the scene.
Epidemiology is an important tool used to study disease in a population. For infectious diseases it helps to determine if a disease outbreak is sporadic (occasional occurrence), endemic (regular cases often occurring in a region), epidemic (an unusually high number of cases in a region), or pandemic (a global epidemic).
We have to prevent an Arad-II pandemic by all means necessary.
The visitors are unaware of the dangerous situation.
The subject might be lurking in every corner.
Art Basel is crowded. Good news for business, bad news for the world.
Some people think they might have spotted the patient. Trying to clarify the rumors.
Time is short.
A couple of senior US citizens give us the crucial hint that Friesinger has left the building.
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
7:41 PM]
Dec 2 / 01: Friesinger / CCTV
Friesinger is entering Convention Center / Art Basel Miami Beach, 3 PM EST.
CCTV picture:
Condition Red!
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
7:36 PM]
Dec 1 / 03: Tracking Friesinger
Operation "Sunny Side Up".
20 young galleries in shipping containers converted to public art spaces by avant-garde architects, in Collins Park at the Beach (Art Deco District).
Approaching via beach.
Interrogation.
Distributing info material.
High risk environment.
Clearly the subject is no longer around.
For today the search is terminated.
In case we are unable to take Friesinger into custody until Dec 4, long-term prospects are disastrous.
We return to the base camp to do some epidemiological calculations.
Assessing impact on US population:
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
7:12 PM]
Dec 1 / 02: Email
A watchful visitor (who wants to stay anonymous) sent us a picture of the patient via email. The picture was taken yesterday at the press office of Art Basel Miami Beach.
Friesinger's condition seems to be alarming.
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
7:06 PM]
Dec 1 / 01: Search
Operation "Enduring Hygiene".
New information arrives.
Friesinger was sighted at Aqua Art/Collins Avenue yesterday and today.
We are starting our search.
Gathering data, handing out leaflets, trying to track down the patient.
Talking to various gallery owners and artists.
We appreciate the cooperation.
Three business cards retrieved and secured.
Rumor has it, that Friesinger has left Aqua Art heading for the beach (Art Basel Art Positions, 18nd street).
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
6:50 PM]
Miami Beach Convention Center: Art Basel Miami Beach
Basic info about Art Basel Miami Beach:Art Basel Miami Beach takes place from December 1 - 4, 2005. The international art show in Miami Beach (Florida) is the American sister event of Art Basel in Switzerland, the most important annual art show worldwide for the past 36 years. [...] An exclusive selection of 195 leading art galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia will exhibit 20th and 21st century art works by over 2000 artists. The exhibiting galleries are among the world's most respected art dealers. They will be showing exceptional works by both renowned established artists and cutting-edge newcomers. Special exhibitions will feature young galleries and video art. The show will be a vital source for discovering new developments in contemporary art and rare museum-calibre art works. [...] Art Basel Miami Beach is the most important art show on the American continent and a cultural and social highlight of the Americas.
 Situation: Critical.
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
9:54 AM]
Friesinger, Guenther
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
9:50 AM]
Outbreak
Virus outbreaks occur when a virus bypasses infection control measures and a relatively high number of infections are observed where no cases or sporadic cases occurred in the past. The study of pathogenic viral outbreaks is a branch of epidemiology and usually refers to virus outbreaks that make people, animals, or plants sick. As with bacterial outbreaks, viral outbreaks are classified as sporadic (occasional occurrence), endemic (regular cases often occurring in a region), epidemic (an unusually high number of cases in a region), or pandemic (a global epidemic).
Major human epidemic viruses include influenza, Human Immunodeficiancy Virus (HIV), measles, and rubella. Smallpox has been eradicated as a major epidemic virus, however emerging viruses and engineered viruses pose a significant challenge for the future. HIV is no longer considered an emerging virus as it was discovered over 20 years ago, and it has grown to become a major epidemic. Other emerging viruses include Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), henipaviruses and Ebola which have been contained through aggressive contact tracing and isolation of patients and suspected carriers of the disease.
[posted by Kappa Team leader at
9:49 AM]
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