Chapter 1404 - 2: The Plague Arrives (Part 2)

Chapter 1404: Chapter 2: The Plague Arrives (Part 2)

However, this aligns quite well with the typical pattern of an outbreak: the war had just ended when the pandemic began to erupt.

Moreover, according to the confirmation from East African customs quarantine personnel and the Ministry of Health, this pandemic is likely still in its formative stage, otherwise the East African Customs Quarantine Bureau wouldn’t have just discovered it. After all, East Africa is the most focused country in the world when it comes to pandemic prevention work.

As early as the last century, during the colonial period, East Africa had established a relatively advanced system for monitoring and preventing epidemics. The first batch of immigrants who arrived in East Africa were all settled after undergoing quarantine and disinfection work.

Ernst ordered: "According to the strategy we prepared in 1917, immediately initiate emergency plans, carry out monitoring work for this pandemic nationwide, impose martial law at all ports immediately, especially focusing on ships from Europe and America, issue warnings to European countries, and send the data we have obtained to the countries concerned."

"Simultaneously, be mindful of the ships coming from the Persian Gulf direction. After all, a brutal war just ended there, which might also lead to significant issues."

As early as 1917, under Ernst’s instruction, East Africa had prepared a prevention plan concerning the potential outbreak of a large-scale epidemic in Europe.

However, this plan had never been activated because, from 1917 to 1918, East Africa did not detect any related occurrences, and isolated cases were ultimately deemed false alarms.

By 1919, Ernst had almost forgotten about this matter, unexpectedly, as time was about to reach early 1920, the pandemic arrived belatedly.

Minister of Health Garlowe said: "Yes, Your Majesty, we will start implementing the relevant measures immediately to minimize the impact of this pandemic on the Empire."

On the same day, various European countries received warnings from the East African Government, which immediately drew their attention.

In fact, some European countries had already noticed the outbreak of this pandemic, such as Spain and Portugal, which are neutral countries.

This is quite understandable; other countries, especially those involved in the war, have a lot to deal with. The pandemic, in contrast, might seem like a minor issue to them—during the war, massive population casualties were far more devastating than the pandemic, and now that the war has just ended, their workload is hardly reducing.

Just clearing the ruins left by the war and handling post-war reconstruction is enough to keep them on their feet all day.

Moreover, due to the social disruption and resource scarcity caused by the war, many diseases have already erupted in Europe, allowing the pandemic to be more easily overlooked.

...

Le Havre Port, France.

Le Havre Port is an important port along the Atlantic coast of France and is also the second-largest port in France. During the war, this port was extremely prosperous.

Materials from various countries were transported through Le Havre to the entire territory of France to support the needs of the war and social production in France.

However, when the citizens of Le Havre were celebrating the New Year and the end of the war, a sudden outbreak of illness erupted in the city of Le Havre.

The once-busy streets no longer bustled with traffic, with only patrol personnel spreading information door-to-door along the streets.

"Due to the recent outbreak of the pandemic, it is best if everyone avoids going outside and attending gatherings. Le Havre has already discovered hundreds of cases; it’s a form of influenza, highly contagious. Staying home is the safest approach now."

"If you find any suspected cases, please report them voluntarily; do not conceal them. The mortality rate of this pandemic is quite high, and the city government still has ample medicine and resources to respond to the pandemic."

The reason why Le Havre City Government is confident is that a large number of medicines are stored in the city’s warehouse; originally, these medicines were intended to support the front line, but after the war ended, they had no destination and were temporarily housed in Le Havre City’s warehouse.

The city government of Le Havre is temporarily unshaken, but this doesn’t mean the French Central Government is calm.

Paris.

Clemenceau is still the President of France at this moment; in a previous life, Clemenceau would have long resigned by now, but due to the delay caused by the war, he remains in this position.

However, lately, Clemenceau is in a foul mood; on one hand, the French citizens are dissatisfied with the outcome of the war, and on the other hand, other interest groups in France seem to want him to be the scapegoat.

Because, after this war, France not only failed to seize any spoils of war but also did not achieve its pre-war strategic goal of defeating Germany.

It is imaginable how gloomy the emotions of the French people would be; it can be said that right now, media outlets across France are describing Clemenceau in unfavorable terms.

However, France is currently a mess, and no one dares to take Clemenceau’s place.

"Mr. President, the East African Government has sent us a warning stating that an epidemic is breaking out in Europe and advises us to prepare accordingly."

Clemenceau responded irritably, "Apparently, it’s just another piece of bad news, but I’ve gotten used to it lately. Previously, the health department reported the outbreak of a pandemic, and it seems now we’re facing another tough battle."

Clemenceau has resigned himself to fate; he is well aware now that he has become the "scapegoat." Of course, he certainly bears some responsibility, yet in a democratic country like France, it’s impossible to put all the blame on Clemenceau.

Clemenceau said: "Now I have to stand firm for France in my last shift, although the public greatly misunderstands me, I do indeed bear inescapable responsibility."