July 14 3036: Emerging Epidemic in Arizona

The housing crisis and poverty issues have resulted in the emergence of an outbreak of Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia Pestis. The bacterium exists endemically in rodent populations in the American Southwest, and a large homeless encampment in the far outskirts of Phoenix, AZ has created the perfect opportunity for Y. pestis to infect many people. So far, 5,000 people have been infected, and 3,200 have died. Complicating the issue are water and food shortages affecting the homeless encampment.