"THE STAND" IS A NOVEL WRITTEN BY STEPHEN KING.

It was long when first published, and a later edition was issued which had some additional chapters added.

Made for television, the story is told in real time and posits a world ( here ) where only about one per cent of the population is not affected by a lethal virus which is come to be known as Captain Trips. In the very first episode, the story tells us that one of the first people to be exposed to this "superflu" -- Stuart Redman -- apparently has no, as in none, of any of the identifiable 'markers' for his immunity.

Everyone working in the military lab where 'the bug' is being crafted dies in five to twelve minutes of exposure !!!

The virus mutates as it spreads through the population, and the lethality period stretches out to about two or three days from exposure to death. Yet those who are immune can do nothing to stop the spread, and are thus consigned to a country which has lost its people and most of its dogs. Almost everywhere, the streets are empty, but the stores and shops are still full.

Most terrifying, though, are the scenes where hundreds of cars and trucks clog the many roads and tunnels, full only of dead people.

There is no nuclear war, there is no alien invasion, but after the first two or three weeks, cities start to burn.

For some years "The Stand" was available on DVD, but then all the video stores closed, and now a subscription to NETFLIX is about the only way to see it.

No commercials, tho' !!!

: 12 bizarre examples of genetic engineering

: http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/photos/12-bizarre-examples-of-genetic-engineering/enviropig