What is a good name for a make-believe virus?

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   jlparkposted 11 years ago

   What is a good name for a make-believe virus?
   
   I'm writing a novel that has been based around a disaster, and a virus outbreak. I know - overdone...however this is only a back story for this novel - it is more about two teenagers, their pasts and their reactions to the disaster.  The virus however, is based on the rabies virus, but makes those who are infected extremely angry, and at the end stages, blood thirsty.  It is NOT a vampire novel (love reading them, hate writing them). Spread by various methods, and only a few are immune - including dogs.
   
   Any suggestions? All suggestions will be taken seriously.

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   Anil and Honeyposted 11 years ago

   New idea. yes according to your note I think this is a modern idea, ok continue; 'Viral effect' I suggest.

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      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your suggestions

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      dogsandcatshqposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Cool

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3. 59

   epigrammanposted 11 years ago

   Fridayitis
   
   staggeritis
   
   voiditis
   
   abyssmalitis
   
   triggeritis
   
   nihilitis

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      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks

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4. 85

   DS Dubyposted 11 years ago

   How about the RM12 - Rabies Mutation. Most viruses are abbreviated now a days.

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      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the suggestion

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   Mercia Collinsposted 11 years ago

   Orge means angry in Greek
   Virus actually means poison in Greek, so orge virus means angry poison. Anger poisons character, and so that it makes quite good word play.

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      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I like it.  Thanks, I will think on this!

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   Xenonlitposted 11 years ago

   Educated and life experienced readers want plausible science and they will get mad at sloppy names and implausible reasons for scientific happenings.
   
   The flu has to originate somewhere, will be named by scientists, and will eventually be given several popular names, depending on region or social meaning.
   
   1. Give a scientific name first. Find out how the CDC and WHO name viruses. With H1N1 Flu, for example, each letter and number has a meaning.
   
   2. Next, you come up with a name that the media or scientists would give, as with "swine flu", and  "Captain Tripps". The generic name can be a location where the flu originated,  the name of patient  zero, or the scientist who may have created it.
   
   3. Then, If you want to scare the heck out of people, give it a popular name that has supernatural or apocalyptic meaning, as with "The Hand of Satan", "The Mayans Were Right Virus" or "The Zombie Virus"
   
   4. You can also relate the popular name to something horrible that happens when people get the virus.
   
   5.  "Captain Tripps" was a really bland name that scared the heck out of me when Stephen King used it.
   
   Here's to good writing!

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      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for all the info - I believe the same thing - that there needs to be a back sttory to the name.  Thanks!

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   An AYMposted 11 years ago

   Hmm, the Rabies virus is of the Lyssa genus.  And that genus has a single strand RNA which encodes 5 viral proteins referred to by letter: L, M, P, N, G.
   
   Perhaps you could figure something between the usage of the genus Lyssavirus and those 5 letters?
   
   If you want to get into the naming, I looked up that Lyssavirus is named for a Greek goddess of frenzy and rage.  She supposedly sprung from the blood of Ouranos.  Maybe you could call it the Ouranos Virus?

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      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks.  This one has been playing on my mind since I read it on my iphone at work. I will think on it...and I will let you all know in a day or so!.  Thanks!

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   GoodLadyposted 11 years ago

   S.T.ym.
   
   PLR  (plarr)
   
   R-LB (arr-eulb)
   
   They are names which are sounds.  FLU, AIDS etc are short powerful sounding names.
   The letters don't mean anything, (as flu etc does) they just appear to abbreviate.  (You'd have to be creative  with what they are abbreviations for!).

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      jlparkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your suggestions for the names...I will give it some thought!

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   ShadowArbiter123posted 6 years ago

   I think maybe The Silent Killer?
   or DoomsDay?
   er Cold Murderer?
   I dunno I am currently using The Silent Dweller for my story.
   Cheers
   Hope you find it soon

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