Red blood cells being transfomed due to SCP-009-KO infection
Item #: SCP-009-KO
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: A minimum of five samples are to be kept in a frozen state within a freezer maintained at minus 2 degrees Celsius, as they are sensitive to heat. Personnel of Level 2 clearance or higher are allowed to bring out additional samples within the containment facility for approved experiments. However, entry is restricted if there are any open wounds on the skin surface due to the risk of infection. Infected individuals of SCP-009-KO (SCP-009-KO-2) should be kept less than five individuals, except under special circumstances. For ease of management, they must consist of more cooperative D-Class personnel. Infected individuals are exempt from regular termination procedures and are to reside within Site-17. In the case of leakage, the affected area is to be quarantined, and personnel equipped with protective gear are to be dispatched to sterilise the area with high-temperature gas. Personnel exposed to the virus must wash their bodies in water over 40 degrees Celsius for one hour. If infection is confirmed, they are to be treated as SCP-009-KO-2.
Description: SCP-009-KO is a virus that infects human red blood cells. No cure has been found to date (experiment requests with SCP-500 have been denied). However, SCP-009-KO exhibits a unique behavioral pattern where infected red blood cells only begin to proliferate upon contact with new red blood cells. If no new red blood cells are found within approximately 10 hours, they undergo apoptosis. Additionally, as it only affects red blood cells, the virus does not infect unless directly introduced into the bloodstream, hence its infectivity is very low.
Following initial infection, SCP-009-KO spreads throughout the entire body within approximately 2 hours. The genetic material inserted by SCP-009-KO into red blood cells forms a nucleus-like organelle by combining with certain proteins of hemoglobin. This nucleus appears to function similarly to the brain of a living organism. Following the creation of the nucleus, there is an adaptation process for a few minutes (overproduction of red blood cells to compensate for depleted hemoglobin), after which fully infected red blood cells gather and initiate organs of the infected individual to acquire consciousness, which demand direct communication with the brain. This process occurs while the infected individual is conscious, and from this point onwards, they are able to communicate with each organ through 'mental conversations'.
The conscious organs appear to possess unique personalities and interact with each other. The infected individual can command bodily functions as usual, and the organs generally obey the commands of the brain. However, organs have been observed to refuse such commands when their demads aren't properly met, which can be resolved through the aforementioned 'conversations' by the infected individual.
Approximately one week after infection, organs affected by SCP-009-KO divide into structures resembling labor relations. The nervous system, including parts of the brain and spinal cord, assumes the role of overseeing other organs and regulates the endocrine system while providing them with hormones. Organs may occasionally cause problems such as diverting hormones or being lazy, depending on their personality. Although all organs have survival as a common goal, if the infected individual loses the trust of the organs due to misjudgments, they may attempt a revolt (Experiment 07/29) or suicidal behavior (Experiment 09/36).
SCP-009-KO was discovered when a Foundation employee, who had a personal connection with the initial infected individual, brought him in for treatment. He testified that the phenomenon manifested after he received a blood transfusion during surgery, prompting an immediate investigation. However, the source could not be identified. The Foundation is monitoring blood donation systems and the blood market to prevent indiscriminate terror, but as of now, no other infected individuals have appeared, making it difficult to identify the source.
Recent cases have shown instances of repaired organs affected by SCP-009-KO, prompting ongoing research into practical applications of SCP-009-KO (Experiment 11/01).
Addendum
- Test subjects were required to explain more about the 'conversation'. Infected individuals claim it is not as simple as voices echoing in their heads, but rather signals indicating the organs desire to communicate with the brain. Some test subjects referred to this as a 'knock'. Infected individuals can consciously summon or ignore the organs upon receiving this signal. However, in urgent situations, the spinal cord has been reported to 'visit and report' the brain after its autonomous decision. These expressions are mostly based on the imagination of the test subjects, so it is difficult to formalize. Though, a general grasp is conveyable and thus this is included as an addendum. - Dr. Alberto