SCP-8719 is a parasite which inhibits human fear responses by attacking the amygdala and hypothalamus.
Item #: SCP-8719
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Antibody tests have been added to safety panels for livestock processing, blood transfusion and tissue donation. Major outbreaks must be traced for culling.
Description: SCP-8719 is a parasite which inhibits human fear responses by attacking the amygdala and hypothalamus. It reproduces asexually in most mammals, but only causes behavioral changes in Homo sapiens. Risk factors include tainted blood, organ transplants, and undercooked meat.
After a variable incubation period, symptoms develop in phases:
- Stage 1 — lessened anxiety, reduced inhibitions, and increased pleasure-seeking behavior. Peers often perceive this as a positive development, complicating diagnosis.
- Stage 2 — diminished reactions to common warning stimuli: bright light, heat, noise, and social cues, particularly discomfort and pain. Depending on context, this may register as rudeness, overconfidence, zealotry, and/or exceptional bravery.
- Stage 3 — subjects are completely inured to fear, incapable of forming or retrieving related emotional memories. They frequently attempt physical contact with objects of interest, including lethal hazards, resulting in death.
SCP-8719 is present in approximately 6% of the global population. Although Stage 1 infections can be treated with antibiotics, all neurological damage is irreversible.
Dr. Nelson has noted similarities between SCP-8719 and Toxoplasma gondii, which reproduces asexually within intermediate hosts (behavior-modified prey rodents) but undergoes full sexual reproduction in definitive hosts (feline predators).
As of yet, the definitive hosts for SCP-8719 (designated SCP-8719-1) have not been identified.