"Unraveling the Mystery"

As the evening drew in, Harry's condition took a turn for the worse. He began to experience urinary incontinence, and his body started to react violently to water, causing him to break out in a cold sweat at the mere sight of it. The hospital staff quickly took note of the new symptoms and did their best to keep him comfortable. Meanwhile, Lloyd was struggling with moderate pelvic pain, but he was determined to stay awake and alert, convinced that he needed to be there for Harry. When a nurse came to take his vitals, he hesitated before speaking up. "Guys, I need to tell you something," Lloyd said, wincing in pain. "I think I know what might have caused this. We had a beef jerky snack a few days ago...it was that new brand, Beef Cherokee." The doctors and nurses exchanged worried glances, and one of them quickly pulled out a tablet, typing away on it. "Beef Cherokee?" the doctor repeated. "That sounds familiar. Let me check on something." A few minutes later, the doctor returned, looking grave. "It seems that there was a recall of several batches of Beef Cherokee seven years ago due to an outbreak of Leptospirosis on one of the beef farms. The bacteria can survive in meat for a long time if it's not properly handled and cooked." Lloyd's eyes widened in horror as a nurse approached him, a somber expression on her face. "Mr. Lloyd, it appears that you and Mr. Harry have contracted Leptospirosis. It's a bacterial infection that's usually spread through the urine of infected animals, often through contaminated water or food." Lloyd shook his head, refusing to believe it. "No, that can't be right. We ate that beef jerky years ago. How could we have gotten sick from it now?" The nurse explained that the bacteria can remain dormant in the body for years, and in some cases, it can take months or even years for the symptoms to appear. Lloyd's mind reeled as he tried to process the information. "But...but that means...we would have had to have been infected seven years ago?" Lloyd stammered. The doctor nodded. "That's right. It's a long incubation period, but it's not unheard of. The thing is, the bacteria can reactivate under certain conditions, causing the symptoms you're experiencing now." Lloyd felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He couldn't believe that something they had eaten so long ago could be causing their current condition. He looked over at Harry, who was lying in his bed, surrounded by machines and tubes. "What can we do?" Lloyd asked, his voice shaking. The doctor's expression was grim. "We'll do everything we can to treat the infection, but it's going to be a long and difficult road. We'll need to monitor their condition closely and provide supportive care to help their bodies fight off the infection." As the doctor and nurses sprang into action, Lloyd couldn't help but wonder if they would be able to overcome this. He felt a wave of fear wash over him, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand: getting Harry and himself back to health.