Chapter 45: Infection

Chen Mo lay on the hospital bed, pale and unconscious, with a layer of sweat on his forehead, dampening his temples.

His beloved student Wang Yang stood in front of the hospital bed, bending over to carefully check his teacher's body. As the examination deepened, the look on his face became increasingly grave.

"How is it?"

Lin Xiaoman, Shi Yi, and the others stood to one side, asking with full anxiety.

Wang Yang shook his head, led everyone out of the ward, closed the door, and then shook his head, his brow furrowed tightly as he said:

"It's the Ebola virus."

"What did you say? Dr. Chen is infected with the Ebola virus?! But didn't our medical team members get the vaccine in advance? How could they be infected?" Lin Xiaoman asked with an expression of disbelief.

Wang Yang sighed: "We all got the Ebola vaccine, but getting the vaccine doesn't mean we won't be infected with the virus at all. Although the probability is relatively low, it's possible to be infected in special environments, such as physical fatigue, low resistance, or contact with high concentrations of the virus..."

Hearing these words, Shi Yi said with heartache:

"Dr. Chen hasn't slept for three days and nights in a row, with at least 5 surgeries every day, and he also has to perform symptomatic treatment and observation on ordinary patients, not daring to slack off at all. With such high-intensity work, no one can handle it!"

The air froze, and everyone fell silent...

Over the past week, since the Ebola virus broke out in the nearby villages, everyone had been working overtime, and their physical strength and energy were severely overdrawn.

Dr. Chen was now infected with the Ebola virus, which was clearly caused by exhaustion.

"Whoever wants to do this job can do it!"

Lin Xiaoman waved her hand dismissively, "During this period, we were all exhausted to death, and the number of patients increased instead of decreasing! There are so many refugees queuing at the door waiting for treatment. We are not a refugee camp, nor are we a hospital; we have no obligation to treat these patients! Dr. Chen has now collapsed from exhaustion; does he have to have all of us exhausted to death?"

Wang Yang also said helplessly: "Although Dr. Chen clearly announced to the outside world yesterday that he would not accept patients. But there are still 136 patients in the ward, and now only I am left as a doctor..."

Zhou Yutong and Shi Yi stood to one side, lowering their heads without speaking, but there was also obvious dissatisfaction and resentment on their faces.

Dr. Chen was the backbone of the entire team. Without Dr. Chen, everyone's motivation seemed to have leaked away all at once.

Just then, Old Jiu walked out of the back kitchen. He was still wearing an apron, and his hands were still stained with some snow-white flour.

"Everyone is tired, go to the canteen to eat first! I'll watch over Dr. Chen here," Old Jiu said with full concern.

Everyone's stomachs were growling with hunger, so they nodded and walked toward the canteen.

Old Jiu made a table of sumptuous dishes, with ribs, lamb, and a large plate of steaming dumplings.

Everyone lowered their heads, eating their meal silently.

Dr. Chen was still lying in the hospital bed, unconscious, and no one felt good about it. However, with the hot food in their stomachs, everyone's faces finally returned to peace and calmness.

"Dr. Chen... will he be okay?"

Shi Yi finished eating first, put down her chopsticks, and asked with worry and anxiety.

"Dr. Chen got the vaccine, so it shouldn't develop into a severe case. Don't worry, he's just too tired and needs a good rest..." Wang Yang also put down his bowl and chopsticks, took out a tissue, and wiped his mouth.

"Then... there are so many patients waiting for treatment, can you handle it alone? Although I am a translator, I can also help!" Zhou Yutong said anxiously.

Wang Yang gave a light laugh, "Little Curse, just set your mind at ease and be your translator. If you come over here, you'll probably just be a hindrance!"

Zhou Yutong rolled her eyes and ignored Wang Yang.

"Then I can help you, bandaging, nursing, taking care of patients, I can do all of it!" Shi Yi grabbed the opportunity to say.

Wang Yang nodded in approval, "Yi can actually help me, so we can barely persist for a period of time."

Lin Xiaoman took a slow sip of soup to one side, her tone sour:

"Heh, you guys recovered your energy so quickly, wanting to take over Dr. Chen's patients, wanting to bandage, nurse, and take care of patients, one by one like you've been injected with chicken blood and are going to the battlefield, it's like I'm the only bad person."

Wang Yang pursed his lips and said awkwardly: "Now that the patients are here, we can't just give up, right?"

Zhou Yutong also pulled Lin Xiaoman's sleeve and called out as if begging:

"Xiao Manjie..."

Lin Xiaoman grinned and suddenly stood up with a "thud":

"Hahaha, look at how you were scared! I, Lin Xiaoman, am not someone who flees in the face of battle. Now that Dr. Chen is sick, we all need to unite even more and guard our position! By the way, I heard Dr. Chen say that a batch of aid supplies will arrive next Monday, including two thousand doses of antiviral serum, two thousand doses of vaccine, and medical equipment, which are donated by the Aid Africa Foundation specifically to our medical team! There will also be a new doctor coming to help us. Everyone, just hold on for another week, and we'll be victorious! Since we've admitted these patients, we must be responsible for them to the end. I think Dr. Chen must think so too."

Hearing Lin Xiaoman's words, everyone's eyes lit up,

"Really? Two thousand doses each of antiviral serum and vaccine?!"

"And there will be a new doctor? Oh my, male or female? Which hospital is he being transferred from?"

"Right, right, and the Aid Africa Foundation? I heard they were almost going bankrupt, how could they suddenly be so rich and purchase so many medicines and equipment?"

"Yeah, yeah, how could they all be allocated to our team?"

The team members discussed one after another.

Lin Xiaoman curled her lips, patted the table, and said: "Stop gossiping, go to work! What I said must be true!"

"Hahaha, yes, Xiao Manjie. We believe you!"

Among all the team members, except for Chen Mo, Lin Xiaoman was the oldest and had stayed in the Sozali Republic the longest. Coupled with her straightforward and decisive personality, she was like a big sister, and she had the most appeal in the hearts of the team members.

Hearing Lin Xiaoman's words, everyone began to work in an orderly manner.

Time soon reached Friday.

The sky was getting dark, and the sun was about to set. Shi Yi was seen wearing an isolation suit, rushing out of the isolation ward, and running toward the backyard with large strides.

Even through the mask, it could be seen that she was full of anxiety and panic at this moment.

"Yi, what's wrong?"

Lin Xiaoman happened to pass by, walked up, and asked with concern.

"Xiao Manjie, it's not good. Today the weather is too hot, and the condition of more than a dozen patients has suddenly worsened, and they are in urgent need of antiviral serum."

"How many doses are needed?"

"Sixteen doses."

Lin Xiaoman's face froze. If she remembered correctly, currently in the warehouse, there were only the last 16 doses of serum left, exactly not more and not less.

However, the new batch of serum wouldn't be delivered until next Monday at the earliest, which meant that tomorrow and the day after, there would be no serum available for two days.

"Xiao Manjie, move aside first, I need to go get the serum quickly, Dr. Wang is still waiting in the isolation ward!" Shi Yi said anxiously.

Lin Xiaoman's face sank, and she said calmly:

"I know, Yi, you go help Dr. Wang in the ward first, I'll go help you get the serum." ===== CHAPTER 46 =====