She inhaled a slow deep breath. “Not only can the microbes pass their resistance on from colony to colony, it can jump to different species of bacteria. So it’s not a huge surprise that with global abuse of antibiotics, we’ve created a bacterium that has managed to collect a perfect set of antibiotic resistances.” She stared hard at the still-standing reporter. “So if you’re looking to blame someone, you might as well start with the people in this room.”

As Lopez leaned back away from the microphone, hands shot up around the room while others called out to her. Her anger spent, she suddenly felt acutely self-conscious.

Warmack pointed to a petite woman in the front row. “Yes?”

The woman rose to her feet but didn’t stand much taller than the man seated beside her. “You said earlier that all cases have come from two hospitals.” She tapped a pen against her lips. “Does that mean that you can only acquire the infection inside a hospital?”

Warmack grabbed for his microphone. “We don’t think this superbug originated inside the hospital. However, the only spread we know of so far has happened in hospital.”

“So you’re saying people in the community aren’t at risk?” the woman demanded with the pen still glued to her lips.

Warmack shook his head, resignedly. “I’m not saying that at all.”

A man from several rows back shouted out, “Aren’t you worried that people who need hospital care will stop going out of fear?”

“That’s a real concern,” Warmack said grimly. “It’s why we’ve made every effort to quarantine known infections from other patients. But we’ve seen only a handful of cases. And while it might make sense to avoid hospitals for minor ailments, the risks of not seeking attention for serious medical problems far outweighs that of becoming infected with MRGAS.”

Warmack pointed to a hulking man standing in the near aisle.

“Adam Pearson, KOMO news,” the man said with an easygoing smile. “Docs, isn’t it possible there are people out there who have this bug without knowing it?”

Lopez’s chest thumped a little harder. She was about to answer, but again Warmack spoke up. “We call such people ‘carriers.’ And, yes, it’s possible there are carriers we haven’t yet recognized.”

“And these carriers could potentially spread the infection?” Pearson continued.

“Potentially,” Warmack said.

“So let me get this straight, docs.” Pearson’s eyes narrowed, and his laidback manner disappeared. “You don’t know where this bug came from. You have no treatment for it. You don’t know who is infected. And you don’t even know if it is containable. Have I got it right?”