Potentially Dangerous

The other day, when I was enjoying some happy moments watching the "Capricorns" at the ZOO, my eye was (actually both of my eyes were then) caught by an inscription which said:

"A male bouquetin is a potentially dangerous animal. Please, do not come any closer."

I couldn't help but laugh, as I was somehow identifying myself with these stubborn animals, not only because of my being born in the sign of Capricorn (well, I was NOT identifying myself with the MALE part so much, that's true, on the other hand some of my former unhappy loves were born in the sign of Capricorn as well and well, they had proved themselves dangerous when I got closer to them, so the inscription made sense to me anyway).
Today I was reminded of the poor bouquetins in a very bitter way.

It has been almost two weeks since I started suffering something in addition to my sore eye. Nauseas, diarrhoea, headaches and shaking fevers at night...
I have survived my mountain trip, got back to the capital city and as my situation was not getting any better in spite of some pills from a French pharmacy, I went to see my doctor and spent two more days being examined in all imaginable (and perhaps more) ways instead of spending time with people who would deserve it.

Then I was given a set of antibiotics, as they found out that I have a high level of infection in my body according to the blood test, but they didn't know what it was. The only comforting thing was that it was very probably NOT appendicitis. The additional information also said that the antibiotics should be a cure to malaria among others. This made Carrot and Katie laugh a lot, as there is said to be this new cure for malaria, which helps 70% people to get back to normal, but the 30% start thinking that they are Jesus Christ. Well I decided to take the risk as I was born on December 25^th anyway, so it can hardly get worse.
Then I was finally allowed to go to my hometown and see my (also ill) parents, the deal with the doctor being that I would call her on Thursday and she would tell me the results of the rest of the tests.
I started swallowing these antibiotics, the only result being my feeling even sicker (you are not allowed to stay in the sun when taking them and it's been a really nice and hot weather here this week, how typical).
Yesterday I had to call the doctor twice (already becoming suspicious that things might be getting even more complicated) and the results were not ready yet, so she finally asked me to call her again today.
I woke up this morning, felt a little bit better (except for the eye which was very red because of my watching the computer screen for much longer that I could have afforded yesterday), prepared a small breakfast for myself (two slices of this rice-soya simulation of bread), took a deep breath and called the doctor. It failed twice, as the line was busy. Poor doc, thought I. It's Friday, she must have got loads of patients there. When I tried for the third time, the nurse answered the phone:

"Oh, it's you, miss, you have to inform the regional hygienic station, number … as soon as possible, they will ask you to come for three more tests and tell you what to do, goodbye..."

Me: "WHAT? Wait, I want to know what’s going on, what’s wrong with me?"

Nurse: You have a very high level of this bacteria (name), very similar to salmonelosis, just more rare, so you are potentially dangerous and you have to call your regional…“

Me : "But this is an interurban call, your region is not my region, shall I stay in quarantine or what?"

Nurse: "Beep-beep-beep".

Very busy day indeed, I thought angrilly and called the number I was given. The moment I gave my surname (unlike the epidemiologist at the other end), I felt like a celebrity of some kind:

The lady: "Oh, it’s you, thanks for calling, let me just bring my notebook, here I am –so, have you been eating any raw meat, chicken meat, hamburgers, fast food meat?"

Me: "What? None that I know of, perhaps chicken, may I…"

The lady: "Have you been drinking any natural water? Do you work in a grocery or other food industry?"

Me: "No, no and no, but wait..."

The lady: "Not even part time? This is very imporant, miss… have some people around you been experiencing similar symptoms?"

Me: "Not yet, I would have to ask them, but listen, please, I am paying for this call, can I have one question too?"

The lady (huffily): "Sure."

Me "What’ going on? Am I dangerous to other people in my surroundings or what? What does it mean having this bacteria, do I have to go to the hospital?"

The lady :“Haven’t they told you at your GP’s? You are not directly dangerous, only potentially dangerous.“

Me: "I was told that you would give me the details."

The lady: "Haven’t you been contacted by your birth region hygienic station yet? Your doctor gave them your phone number…"

I was getting angry at that point. So. My doc had time enough to give my name, phone number and who knows what else to two different hygienic stations as if I had cholera (which, according to wikipedia, might be actually also caused by this bacteria), but nobody has time to tell me what does that mean for me and my life. So I finally called the second hygienic station…

The voice: "Oh, well, it’s you miss, so you live here at …(she gave the name of student‘s dormitory house where I lived during the last academic year), so has anyone around you been feeling sick?"

Me: "I don’t live there anymore, can.."

The voice: "So has someone been sick or not?"

Me (almost crying): "So am I dangerous or not?"

After a few more desperate minutes I finally got my answer. This bacteria is really very unpleasant and very similar to salmonelosis. I shouldn’t be dangerous to people around me unless I prepare food for them or have sex with them (I wonder, can I pet the “Capricorn” at the ZOO when I don’t have any intention to feed him or sleep with him? ). Normally they would send me to hospital, but as I have been fighting it for fourteen days already (and as it is expensive to stay in the hospital), I may stay at home, but I have to be on a very strict diet, which means only dry rice, bananas, mineral water and tea (which is something I have been doing already in France), for three more weeks or unless the last of the tests is negative (and I will have to undergo three more tests in next three weeks). I can forget about my plans to go canoeing with my friends as these convulsions I have been experiencing will continue unless the bacteria is too hungry to fight back…

So. Now I feel as a caged animal with warning inscriptions all around. I am not aware of any mistake I have done to deserve this (both the sand grain and the bacteria), but I suppose "it’s just the way it is", as one of my friends would have said. I am a Capricorn.